§ Sir A. HOLBROOKasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury who was the official responsible for the arrangement made in 1912 resulting in the fact that the only security held by the War Office against the large deposits made with Messrs. McGrigor in respect of the 643W salaries of military officers was £5,000 (nominal) Consols, representing an actual value of £2,800?
§ Mr. GWYNNEI have been asked to reply. The arrangements of 1912 were a continuation of those made in 1891, in which year it was decided, after full consideration of the subject by the War Office and Treasury, that it was unnecessary to take security on the part of the Government, but that the security then offered by McGrigor and other agents should be accepted in the interests of officers. In the circumstances I have not made research into the question of what Ministers or officials of that period (32 years ago) could be considered responsible for these arrangements.