HC Deb 08 February 1955 vol 536 cc1724-6
32. Mr. Driberg

asked the Secretary of State for War what inquiries have been made by the quarterly audit board into the circumstances of a cocktail party held on or about 6th August, 1954, at the Packway Mess, Larkhill; the charge on mess funds in respect of this party; how much, in addition, was levied on members' bills; and whether he is satisfied that this procedure, and the scale of the party, were in accordance with paragraph 1475 of Queen's Regulations.

Mr. Head

I have been into the arrangements for this party. The accounts were, as usual, checked by the quarterly audit board. They were in order. Participation was entirely voluntary and in fact some officers did not join in.

Mr. Driberg

Can the right hon. Gentleman answer some of the other parts of the Question on the Order Paper—such as, what was the charge on mess funds?

Mr. Head

This party was given by four units collectively. The charges, I think, were very reasonable. For instance a subaltern, if he were married, could take his wife and two guests, and had to pay 10s. I do not think that is exorbitant.

Mr. Driberg

The right hon. Gentleman is simply evading the question. Is he aware that, if he makes further inquiries, he will find that, counting the total charge on mess funds, the average cost per head was nearer £4 or £5 than the 10s. which he has mentioned? Is he aware also that what was voted for at the mess meeting was a cocktail party on the usual modest scale, to end presumably at about 8 or 9 o'clock—but that it went on until nearly one in the morning? [HON. MEMBERS: "Why not?"] I agree: maybe there was no harm in that—but is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this also means that those who did not participate were subsidising, through mess funds, the hospitality of senior officers and their wives?

Mr. Head

As I have said, this party was given by four units. [HON. MEMBERS: "Some party."] It was given because they had been a long time in that area, and they thought that they should collectively return some of the considerable hospitality shown to them in that area. The charge on the mess funds of all four units was £300; that works out at about £75 per unit. These funds are constantly being increased by the small charges which are made in order to provide mess funds. I think that these matters are best left to the wisdom of the commanding officer, and I see no reason to think that this particular party, although it may have gone on a long time, was either unduly extravagant or unwelcome to the vast majority of the officers.

Colonel Gomme-Duncan

Does not my right hon. Friend think that the people who stayed on at that party until 1 o'clock in the morning were more likely to be junior officers than seniors?

Mr. J. Hudson

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that cocktail parties frequently lead to expenditure of money and time which those present never intended at the beginning?

Mr. Head

I sympathise with the views of the hon. Gentleman. I am aware that these functions sometimes lead to situations which were not calculated beforehand.