§ 27. Mr. STEPHEN WALSHasked whether the right hon. Gentleman is aware that the reasons given by the West Lancashire Territorial Association to the War Office, in respect of the deprivation of certain officers and men of the 1st Cadet Battalion King's Liverpool Regiment of the status and privileges set forth in the Cadet Regulations, differ from those communicated to the Liverpool Press and published on the 29th November, 1911; and whether, as the Army Council is inquiring into the whole matter, he will cause this discrepancy in the reasons assigned to be taken into consideration?
§ Colonel SEELYThe statements in the Liverpool Press to which my attention has been drawn do not appear to contain any reasons for the action taken in this case.
§ Mr. WALSHInasmuch as the whole of these circumstances took place before the end of the year 1911, may I ask how soon the Army Council is likely to report upon the matter, and whether, before they do report, they will give the officers and men affected a chance of being heard on their own behalf?
§ Colonel SEELYIt rests with the county association to give or withhold permission, and I am afraid the Army Council cannot properly take action in the matter.
§ Mr. WALSHHow is it that we got an answer a little while ago that the Army Council was considering the whole matter?
§ Colonel SEELYQuite so, and this is the result of our inquiries. We do not propose to take action in matters delegated to the county association.
§ Mr. WALSHAre we to understand that the decision has been arrived at that the Army Council can take no action at all, and that they do not intend to give the officers and men affected a single chance of being heard on their behalf?
§ Colonel SEELYIt would be quite a mistake to suppose that. The fact is that it is a matter left to the discretion of the county association, in which we have not the power to interfere.