§ MR. NORRIS (Tower Hamlets, Limehouse)asked the Secretary of State for War, If it is proposed to add to the quarters at Hythe, by way of providing accommodation for a larger number of officers and men under instruction in musketry; if he will state the principle adopted in the Service as to the selection of both officers and men, and how many men of all ranks are annually trained there; whether the military canal can be utilized for any purposes of instruction; and, if he can state if this canal has ever of late years been surveyed with a view to coast defence, as intended in its original construction?
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, WAR DEPARTMENT (Mr. BRODRICK)(who replied) (Surrey, Guildford)said: The question of increasing the accommodation at the School of Musketry is under consideration; but it can only be carried out if funds should be available after providing for more urgent services. The object of the school is to train officers and non-commissioned officers who shall act as Instructors in Musketry in regiments of the Regular and Auxi- 1589 liary Forces. Vacancies are allotted to those corps most in need of instructors; 280 officers and 580 non-commissioned officers are trained at Hythe yearly. The Royal Military Canal can be used for pontooning or other military exercise. The question of utilizing the Canal as a means of defence has not been lost sight of, and it is held to be still of considerable military value.