HL Deb 21 July 1908 vol 192 cc1687-8
LORD HENEAGE

rose to ask the Under-Secretary of State for War by whose authority officers of the Army were ordered to go to the Olympia and take part in the jumping competitions, and what notice was given to them; whether they were supplied with thoroughly trained horses or ordered to ride any horses supplied to them by the directorate of the show; and whether the expenses of these officers were paid by the War Office or by the directorate of the show.

THE UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Lord LUCAS)

The facts of this case so far as I know are that in June the directorate of the Horse Show at Olympia, when they found that there were not a large number of British officers competing, invited on their own initiative a certain number of British officers to enter. They mounted them on horses which had already been entered for the show, and the directorate paid their expenses. That was a thing which they very generously did, not only for British officers, but also, I believe, for a certain number of foreign officers. I think that supplies the information for which the noble Lord asks.