Mr Charles White: I want, if I may, to bring to the notice of this Committee the domestic side of matters which have arisen in connection with the Army Estimates. We have been told a good many times in this House that there is no discontent in the Army to-day. I propose to refer, if I may, to one or two causes of discontent not only in the Army, but also in the homes of the men who are still serving. We were...
Mr Charles White: Is the hon. Gentleman aware that there have been hundreds of cases in Derbyshire by a speculator of a syndicate who is Mr. Ernest T. Hooley, who is not unknown in the country?
Mr Charles White: For many months.
Mr Charles White: 93. asked the Secretary of State for War if he will at once issue instructions for the cancelling or revising of Army Council Instruction 287, of 1919, which defines the grounds upon which soldiers may be granted release on compassionate grounds; and whether he will consider the advisability of setting up tribunals consisting of business men and women, with one representative from the War...
Mr Charles White: 91. asked the Secretary of State for War how many men, apart from commissioned officers, are now serving in the Army?
Mr Charles White: 92. asked the Secretary of State for War whether an application was made by telegraph by the Superintendent of Police, Ashbourne, on 9th May last, for special leave for Private T. Fearn, No. 235469, 21st Divisional Headquarters, British Expeditionary Force, France, for the purpose of seeing his brother who was dying; whether he is aware that no reply was received from the War Office till the...
Mr Charles White: Why was no answer sent to the communication till 13th May?
Mr Charles White: Like the hon. Member for Cirencester (Mr. T. Davies), I am a somewhat unsophisticated Member of this House. I do not think I should have spoken this evening were it not for the reference to the Lord Chancellor's residence. I happen to be the Member who proposed that a sum of £3,800, and a further £1,000 for decorating the house, should be deleted from the Estimates, and I did so on the...
Mr Charles White: 86. asked the President of the Board of Trade whether life assurance agents are represented on the Committee which has been set up under the chairmanship of Lord Parmoor; and, if not, whether he will recommend or arrange that these agents may be represented at the inquiry and may have the right to examine and cross-examine witnesses?
Mr Charles White: 4. asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has made himself acquainted with the Regulations governing the release of soldiers on compassionate grounds; whether he is aware that the conditions laid down are almost impossible of fulfilment, especially the Regulation relating to a widow claiming the release of her son; whether ho is aware that many of these widows are seventy years of...
Mr Charles White: Does he really expect widows of seventy years of age to have two children of school age dependent on them?
Mr Charles White: 5. asked the Secretary of State for War if he will state how many officers were demobilised between 11th November, 1918, and 1st June, 1919; and how many are now employed or serving on full pay?
Mr Charles White: 44. asked the Prime Minister how many Members of the House of Commons are receiving pay, subsidies, or allowances from the Government in addition to their salaries as Members of Parliament?
Mr Charles White: Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the answer he refers to said nothing and does not give me an answer at all?
Mr Charles White: 45. asked the Prime Minister whether he will set up a Committee, consisting entirely of Members of the House of Commons, to inquire into the necessity for the staffs now in employment in Government offices and Government Departments, and also as to the necessity for the continued occupation of hotels and other buildings now being used by the War Office and other Government Departments?
Mr Charles White: Who are the members of that Committee and are there any Members of Parliament upon it?
Mr Charles White: Is the hon. Gentleman aware that, though this works out on paper, it does not work out in the home, as I can prove?
Mr Charles White: There are one or two words of explanation which I should like as to this matter. This is the Vote which was reduced by £4,800 providing for a bath and lift for the Lord Chancellor's resi- dence and the decoration of the rooms. I am not going to discuss the policy which led up to the Committee refusing to pass this Estimate. I know it has been usual in the past to propose to reduce the salary...
Mr Charles White: 16. asked the Prime Minister how many Members of the House of Commons who have taken the oath of allegiance are refusing to accept their salaries as Members of Parliament?
Mr Charles White: May we have the names of these altruistic heroes?