§ 32. Mr. GINNELLasked the Secretary for the Colonies whether it was with the sanction of His Majesty's Government that an offer of satisfactory settlement was made by the defendants in the case now pending between Aird and Company v. the Tanjong-Pagar Docks Board of Singapore, on condition that the charge of fraud made by the plaintiffs was withdrawn; whether this offer is now the subject of negotiation between those parties; what is the total amount of public money spent and contracted by and through those defendants; whether the Colonial Office has any control over them; and whether an independent inquiry will be held into this expenditure and into the present proposal to compound fraud, irrespective of the result of the negotiations between the parties?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for WAR (Colonel Seely)My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. This matter is now before the Courts, and the Secretary of State must decline to make any statement in regard to it, further than that the hon. Member may rest assured that there will be no compounding of fraud.
§ Mr. GINNELLWill the right hon. Gentleman answer that part of the question not connected with the proceedings in Court: "The total amount of public money spent and contracted by and through the defendants; whether the Colonial Office has any control over them: and whether an independent inquiry will be held"?
§ Colonel SEELYI think it would be undesirable to make any statement while the matter is before the Court.