§ Mr. MACPHERSONasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that, after their annual training, the left section Ross-shire Mountain Battery left Barry for Stornoway at 9.30 p.m. on the 25th July and reached Inverness at 6.30 a.m, on the 26th July; that there the corporal and two privates left the train, there being no order against it, to see relatives, and proceeded by the ordinary day train to Kyle of Lochalsh, for Stornoway, an hour or two afterwards; that on arrival at Kyle of Lochalsh the officer commanding the Stornoway contingent, who was awaiting the train, took the corporal to a waiting room and divested him of his stripes without even asking for an explanation; and whether, in view of the fact that there was no semblance of a trial before this peremptory action was taken and that local feeling on account of it has been aroused, he will have inquiries made and this action corrected?
§ Mr. TENNANTThe report on this case has not yet reached the War Office.
§ Mr. MACPHERSONIs my hon. Friend aware that I gave notice of this question ten days ago, and that I was promised an immediate reply, and will he, in view of the urgency of the matter, see that I get an answer before the end of the Session?
§ Mr. TENNANTI was not aware of that fact, but I will do my best to expedite the matter.
§ Mr. HOGGEWhy does it take longer to get a reply to this question than it took to deprive this man of his stripes?