HL Deb 05 July 1909 vol 2 cc147-9

THE EARL OF DONOUGHMORE rose to ask His Majesty's Government whether it was intended to make any alteration in the duties of the Inspector-General of the Forces, and to move for Papers. The noble Earl said: My Lords, I need not detain your Lordships for more than a few minutes in asking the Question which stands in my name, although it covers a point of very great importance. Your Lordships will remember that following on the Report of Lord Esher's Committee considerable reorganisation in the higher commands of the Army took place. Amongst the new posts created was that of Inspector-General of the Forces—a post which was created, amongst other reasons, as it was said at the time, in order that this officer should be the "eyes and ears of the Army Council." His duties were carefully defined by Order in Council, and the Order is now on the Table of your Lordships' House. But, my Lords, we now learn that a new Order in Council has been drafted. I do not know whether there is anything in the new Order in Council which differs from the old Order in Council, and that is the reason for my asking the Question which stands in my name. This Order in Council is evidently not considered a very confidential document because it has been shown to people outside the War Office, and Colonel Repington, who is well known to your Lordships as the distinguished Military Correspondent of The Times, used the following words in a lecture he delivered at Aldershot— The new Order in Council defining the duties of the Inspector-General has not been published, and therefore I will not quote it. That sentence is quite enough to show that a draft Order in Council is in existence, and that it has been shown to people outside the War Office. I should be the last person to grumble at Colonel Repington being shown any document which the higher authorities at the War Office thought fit to show him, but I do contend that when a document of that importance, containing a change, possibly, in the duties of so high an official, is shown to people outside the War Office, it is time it is shown to Parliament. Therefore, I have put down a Motion that a copy of this draft Order in Council be laid before your Lordships' House.

Moved, That an humble Address be presented to His Majesty for Papers relating to the duties of the Inspector-General of the Forces.—(The Earl of Donoughmore.)

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

My Lords, there is no new Order in Council, and it is not even under consideration to frame a new Order in Council dealing with the duties of the Inspector-General.

THE EARL OF DONOUGHMORE

No draft Order?

LORD LUCAS

There is no draft Order either. The only document of any kind dealing with the duties of the Inspector-General since the original Order in Council of 1904 and the alterations which were made in the King's Regulations is to be found in the most recent edition of the King's Regulations—that of 1908. Paragraphs 16 and 17 embody a very much fuller definition of the duties of the Inspector-General. That was done at the time when the present Inspector-General, Sir John French, succeeded the late Inspector-General, the Duke of Connaught, but, except for that amplification which the Regulations now give of the duties of the Inspector-General, no document has been issued and none is in draft or in contemplation. I hope, therefore, that as there are no Papers to lay the noble Earl will not press his Motion.

THE EARL OF DONOUGHMORE

I had been deceived by Colonel Repington's words. He distinctly spoke of the new draft Order in Council. After the statement of the noble Lord the Under-Secretary I withdraw my Motion.

Motion, by leave, withdrawn.