HC Deb 07 March 1923 vol 161 c541W
46. Mr. HANNON

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the dissatisfaction felt at the trading operations of the Navy, Army and Air Force Institute, and at the heavy losses of ex-service men's money involved therein, he will take immediate steps to re-appoint a Select Committee to inquire into the whole question?

Lieut.-Colonel JACKSON:

I have been asked to reply. I am not aware that any loss of ex-service men's money is involved in the trading operations referred to, or that there are any sufficient grounds for appointing a Select Committee to inquire into the matter. As I have already said; if there is any general desire for the reconstitution of the Select Committee which was appointed by the late Parliament to inquire into the trading of the war organisations known as the Expeditionary Force Canteens and Navy and Army Canteen Board, my Noble Friend will be glad to facilitate the re-appointment of such a Committee, but he sees no reason why its terms of reference, which were duly settled by the late House of Commons as the outcome of full debate, should now be varied so as to cover the present trading operations of the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes.