§ Mr. FIELDasked the First Lord of the Treasury whether he is aware that the War Office granted £400 to the Winchester Corporation in aid of the expenditure incurred by that body in litigation against a private individual; whether he is aware that this action was originally decided by an arbitrator, mutually agreed upon, and whose decision was subsequently upheld by a judge in the High Court against the corporation; whether he can explain why the War Office took this unusual course; and whether it is to be used as a precedent in future?
§ Mr. HALDANEThe facts are as stated in the question. The hon. Member has, however, omitted to state that the Court of Appeal reversed the decision of the judge in the High Court. I have already informed the hon. Member of the reasons for the action taken by the War Office.