§ COLONEL SMYTHsaid, he wished to ask the Secretary of State for War whether any steps have been taken for referring to a Commission, or to a Committee of either House of Parliament, the estab- 1610 lishment and organization of the Permanent Staff of Regiments of Militia, with a view to rendering them more effective during the time the Regiments are not embodied; and, also, whether it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government to call out for training in the present year those Regiments of Militia which have not been recently embodied; if so, is it intended to quarter them in billets, or barracks, or under canvas?
GENERAL PEELsaid, that in answer to the first part of the question of the hon. and gallant Member, he had to state that Her Majesty had been graciously pleased to approve the appointment of a Royal Commission to take into consideration several subjects relating to the Militia, among which the question of the employment of the Permanent Staff of the Militia would find a place. It was the intention of Her Majesty's Government to call out Regiments of Militia alluded to by the hon. and gallant Gentleman for training during the present year, and to endeavour to avoid as much as possible billeting the force called out upon the inhabitants.