§ 55. Mr. NEVILLEasked the Prime Minister whether, when he decided to retain Lord Saye and Sele as a Member of his Government, he was aware that Lord Saye and Sele had admitted that he had frequently approached the commanding officers of regiments for the purpose of obtaining the custom of their canteens for the brewery whose salaried and commission agent he was, and that, when the Dublin Fusiliers changed their brewer, whose agent Lord Saye and Sele had been, he paid the expenses of Colonel Whitaker to visit the commanding officer of that regiment in Crete with a view to recovering the custom of their canteen, and with that object wrote a letter which the judge who sentenced Colonel Whitaker to imprisonment characterised as a most improper letter?
§ The PRIME MINISTERLord Saye and Sele made a full statement in another place of what had occurred with regard to this matter, the version of which contained in the question is both incomplete and, I think, misleading.
§ Mr. NEVILLEMay I ask whether the House is to understand that the conduct which was admitted by the Noble Lord, and which savours of tampering with the integrity of regimental officers, fully qualifies him for association with His Majesty's Ministers? [HON. MEMBERS: "Yes!"]
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe Noble Lord remains a Member of the Government, and I have every confidence in him.