§ SIR WALTER FOSTER (Derby, Ilkeston)asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the statements recently made with regard to Royal Naval Artillery Volunteers, their utility would be enhanced by the reconstitution of the corps as Royal Marine Artillery Volunteers?
§ *THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (LORD G. HAMILTON, Middlesex, Ealing)Under the Act of Parliament which established the Royal Naval Artillery Volunteers provision 358 was made for their being employed either on land or at sea, as the Admiralty may direct, within certain limits named in the Act, so that I do not see that a re-constitution of the corps such as that suggested in the question would open out any fresh field of employment whereby the Admiralty could utilize their services. All land defences being under the War Office, the power of employing the corps on shore is practically a dead letter as far as the Admiralty are concerned. I understand the Royal Naval Artillery Volunteers have expressed a decided objection to transferring their services to the War Department, so that this source of employment does not seem likely to be available. I believe that a meeting of the officers commanding these Volunteers is likely to take place, and any proposals emanating from such a meeting will be carefully considered by the Admiralty.