§ MR. LAURIEasked the Secretary of State for War when the Officers of the Army are to be relieved from the Band Charge, whether the Queen's Regiments now employed in India would he also relieved from it; and whether any arrangement had been made to enlarge the School of Musketry at Hythe?
GENERAL PEELsaid, it would be in the recollection of the House that some time ago a question had been put to him on the subject of the bands. He had since made an application to the Treasury to grant relief to the officers in regard to this charge. A correspondence had subsequently taken place which formed a portion of the Minutes moved for by the hon. and gallant Member for Westminster (Sir De L. Evans). That correspondence would be shortly produced, and the hon. Member would then see what had been done in the matter. With regard to the last inquiry of the hon. Gentleman he could say that no person would be more anxious than himself to give every facility for the enlargement and efficiency of the School of Instruction in Musketry, and several plans were under the consideration of the Government in 771 this matter. An additional expenditure of £20,000 had been made for establishing a school of gunnery at Shoeburyness.