HC Deb 28 May 1940 vol 361 c398
Mr. Stokes

asked the Secretary of State for War when the hon. Member for Ipswich may expect to receive an answer to his letter of the 15th May, on the subject matter of the employment of Major Reid Kellett, and waste and extra-vagence in the construction of Militia camps?

Mr. Law

My hon. Friend raised this Question very fully in the Debate on the Adjournment on Thursday, 2nd May, and my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for War replied to him on that occasion. Following on that Debate, the Secretary of State for War wrote at some length on 11th May summarising the position and indicating his final and considered view. My hon. Friend's letter of 15th May asks a further series of detailed questions, and, while my right hon. Friend will certainly consider them in due course, I cannot in present circumstances name a date by which a reply will be sent.

Mr. Stokes

Is the Financial Secretary aware that the Under-Secretary of State for War when replying to the Debate on 2nd May was not present when I made my statement and, therefore, was quite unable to reply. Is he further aware that this matter has been under consideration for over a year? Is it not quite time that the matter was settled?

Mr. Law

The hon. Member has had replies to some of his letters, but the particular letter to which he refers includes a number of points on which a good deal of research is necessary, and I am sure that the hon. Member would wish this research to be made as carefully as possible.