§ 20. Major DAVID DAVIESasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether an officer whose conduct has been the subject of a Court of Inquiry is entitled to be acquainted with the decisions and findings of the Court if they are of an adverse character; whether an officer who has been removed from his regiment, and to whom the results of the inquiry have not been communicated, is entitled to state his case before the War Office authorities; whether he is aware that requests of this character are now being refused; and whether, in the case of officers home on leave from distant theatres of war, whose requests for a hearing have been persistently ignored, extension of leave can be granted?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONIf my hon. and gallant Friend will refer to Rule of Procedure 124 m, he will find the information he desires in regard to Courts of Inquiry. The conditions under which an officer is entitled to state his case before the War Office authorities will be found by reference to Section 42 Army Act and notes thereto, page 414, Manual of Military Law, and paragraph 439, King's Regulations. I am afraid that no useful purpose would be served by granting extensions of leave having in view the provisions of the Rule of Procedure, Army Act, and King's 1368 Regulations stated above. I would also remind my hon. and gallant Freind that extensions of leave inevitably result in some other officer being delayed in securing leave for which he may have been waiting for many, many months.