§ 16 and 17. Mr. PETOasked the Under-Secretary of State for War (1) whether he has appointed a military Court of Inquiry into the circumstances of the assault committed by Second-Lieutenant Plummer on a man named Stewart, and into the action of Colonel Leith, commanding at Aberdeen, in suppressing the civil proceedings which were commenced; and (2) whether he is aware of the effect on opinion in Scotland caused by the action of the local military authority in attempting to hush up all inquiry into the assault committed by Second-Lieutenant Plummer when acting as recruiting officer at Aberlour; and what action he is going to take to bring the offender to military justice?
§ Mr. TENNANTAs I informed the House, in reply to a supplementary question put to me on the 1st March, no Court of Inquiry in the ordinary sense of those words has been held, but the military authorities at the War Office, in conjunction with the local military authorities, are making an investigation. This is not yet quite complete, and until it is complete I cannot say what action may be necessary.
§ Mr. PETOIf the result of the right hon. Gentleman's informal inquiries leads him to the conclusion that there is a case to be investigated, will he hesitate to appoint a military Court of Inquiry?
§ Mr. TENNANTNo, Sir, I shall not hesitate to appoint such a Court.