§ 38. Commander Galbraithasked the Secretary of State for War how the Business Advisory Committee of the War Office has functioned since its establishment; how often it meets; how many formal reports it has presented and on what 629 subjects; and the names of the present members and their present or former business connections.
§ Sir J. GriggAs my answer is rather long, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the answer:
§ The Standing Committee on Army Administration (which is the Committee to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers) held fairly frequent meetings in the first 18 months of its existence, set up a number of sub-committees on particular subjects, and started many investigations into Army administration. As a result of its work various new organisations were created within the War Office which gradually assumed most of the burden originally falling on the Standing Committee itself. In consequence of these developments the terms of reference of the Committee were altered, at its own request, so that it is now available to be used when required to explore questions of major policy concerning the future organisation of the Army and the War Office and their relation to the general Government machine. The Committee has presented three formal reports, one on the higher organisation of the War Office, one on the organisation of the General Staff and the Quarter-Master-General's Department and the third a review of its first year's work.