§ Sir A. MARKHAMasked the Prime Minister whether, seeing that while in charge of the War Office during Lord Kitchener's absence abroad he transferred the Ordnance Department to the Ministry of Munitions so that design and manufacture could be co-ordinated, he, before taking this step, consulted Lord Kitchener, in view that this Minister had for many months opposed such a change being made?
§ The PRIME MINISTERAt the time when the transfer of the Ordnance Department to the Ministry of Munitions took place the Prime Minister was acting as Secretary of State for War. It is not customary nor expedient to give particulars as to the persons consulted before decisions of this kind are arrived at.