HC Deb 24 June 1918 vol 107 cc705-6
36. General CROFT

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Barnard Castle, prior to his resignation from the Government, applied to the Treasury for a draft to cover the incidental expenses of a visit to France; whether the delegation was composed of the right hon. Gentleman, the hon. Member for Leicester, and the hon. Member for Stock-port; and whether such draft was actually paid to the right hon. Gentleman?

Mr. BALDWIN (Joint Financial Secretary to the Treasury)

Owing to a misunderstanding, an imprest was on 26th July, 1917, issued to meet the expenses of a party including the three Gentlemen named. The whole amount was refunded by the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Barnard Castle on 3rd August.

General CROFT

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether the right hon. Gentleman applied for this grant as a Cabinet Minister, and whether he gave the impression that the grant was applied for as a Cabinet Minister?

Mr. BALDWIN

I shall require notice of that question.

60. General CROFT

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Barnard Castle, prior to his resignation from the Government, applied to the Admiralty to place a vessel at his service; whether such vessel was actually placed at his service and took the right hon. Gentleman and two of his Parliamentary colleagues to France; and whether the journey undertaken was on Government business and at the request of the Cabinet?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Dr. Macnamara)

My hon. and gallant Friend must, I think, have overlooked the replies given on this subject to the Noble Lord the Member for Dover on the 1st and 8th August last year. No Admiralty vessel was placed at the disposal of the right hon. Gentleman on the occasion referred to.