§ MR. EARPasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether any, and, if any, what regulations are enforced in billetting Militia regiments called up for training, with the view to insuring decent and proper sleeping accommodation for the men; and, if he has any objection to procure Returns from head quarters bearing upon the subject, in order to inform the House at the earliest opportunity whether a proper regard is paid to the laws of health in procuring such sleeping accommodation?
MR. GATHORNE HARDY, in reply, said, the rules for billetting were in the Mutiny Act, but the billetting itself was provided for in the law relating to the Militia. The subject had attracted attention, not on the complaints of the men, but on the complaints of those on whom the men were billetted, and in such cases as were practicable, lodgings were procured for the men. As to the Returns asked for, he did not think they could be procured from head-quarters; they would be more properly furnished by the local sanitary authorities, who had the superintendence of these lodging-houses. When the Brigade Depôt Centres were established accommodation would be provided there for the recruits, and it was proposed, as far as possible, that the men should be trained under canvas. Meanwhile, he feared that in the billetting of men some inconvenience would continue to be felt.