§ 20. Sir NICHOLAS GRATTAN - DOYLEasked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the observations of the Comptroller and Auditor-General with reference to an explosion at Woolwich Arsenal on 4th March, 1929, and to the statement that a letter addressed by him to the War Office on 31st January, 1930, had not been answered; whether a reply has now been despatched; and, if so, of what nature?
§ Mr. SHAWThe answer to the first and second parts of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the remainder of the question, this matter will come shortly before the Committee of Public Accounts, and I would suggest that the hon. Member should await their report regarding it.
§ Sir N. GRATTAN-DOYLEDoes that mean that up to the moment no reply has been sent?
§ Mr. SHAWIt means that when platters are before the Committee of Public Accounts it is generally considered courteous to them not to prejudice the question even by answers in the House.