§ 12. Sir Arnold Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the meetings of the Departmental Committee on Courts-Martial procedure are to be held in private and that possible witnesses are assured that none of the evidence given will be published; whether this decision was reached with his approval; and whether he will give further consideration thereto having regard to the public interest in this matter and the large number of individuals affected?
§ Mr. Hore-BelishaThe committee has adopted, with my approval, the procedure best calculated to give confidence to witnesses and to obtain the material required for its report, and is following the course pursued by the Darling Committee in 1919.
§ Sir A. WilsonWill the right hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of suggesting to the chairman of the committee that non-service witnesses should be examined in public, so that their evidence may be made public in order to stimulate public interest?
§ Mr. Hore-BelishaI think that would be a course for the chairman himself to suggest, and, if he did so, it would be received with sympathy.