Oral Answers to Questions — British Army. – in the House of Commons at on 5 August 1924.
Mr George Lansbury
, Poplar Bow and Bromley
asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is now in a position to state what action is pro- posed to be taken as a result of his Report to His Majesty in reference to the appeal of Lieutenant Glendinning for a committee, or commission, of inquiry into the allegations made by him against certain officers and others in His Majesty's service?
Mr Stephen Walsh
, Ince
It is not proposed to take any further action of the nature suggested. I regret that I was unable to advise His Majesty to issue any special instructions in regard to this officer's petition.
Mr George Lansbury
, Poplar Bow and Bromley
Has not my right. hon. Friend considered, in view of the great public interest in this man's case, referring the whole of his complaint to some outside legal gentleman to investigate?
Mr Cahir Healy
, Fermanagh and Tyrone
Why has not the public inquiry proceeded? There must be something rotten in the state of Denmark.
Mr Stephen Walsh
, Ince
I understand my hon. Friend to suggest that it may be possible to refer the whole of the agreed papers relevant to the case to some single authority, not a commission or committee of inquiry, but the agreed relevant papers to some single person, who will go into the whole case and report. If that is the line he suggests, I will certainly give it my best consideration.
Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
