HC Deb 20 March 1871 vol 205 cc265-6
MR. HANBURY-TRACY

asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether he has authorised the preliminary regulations proposed by the Committee for securing the employment of soldiers in trades; whether he has considered the expediency of appointing, in addition to the non-commissioned officers recom- mended by the Committee, a qualified commissioned officer in every regiment to superintend (so soon as the necessary drills are acquired) the instruction and employment of soldiers in trades on public works and industrial schools in the same manner that instructors of musketry are now nominated; whether his attention has been drawn to the small number of qualified pioneers existing in the Army; whether, considering the great difficulty anticipated by the Committee in the selection of suitable men, it is his intention to offer increased pay to the pioneer force, with the view of bringing that body up to a standard of efficiency equal to the Royal Engineers; and, whether from the experience gained during the last few years, it is now his intention of making the repair of barrack damages and fair wear and tear dilapidations compulsory on the troops inhabiting the various barracks on the Home station, and generally to establish an organised system whereby the spare time of the troops may be utilised, to the public benefit and to their own advantage?

MR. CARDWELL

said, in reply, that the preliminary regulations have been authorized, except as regards the position and instruction of the non-commissioned officers in charge of the pioneers. I have approved the appointment of a qualified officer to superintend the workshops and manage the funds. Returns have been called for of the number of artizans who have been tested at their different trades; but the whole of the Returns have not yet been received. I have no proposal before me for increasing the pay of the pioneers. It would not always be practicable to make it compulsory on the troops to repair their own barracks; but it is my desire to turn to the best account the labour of the troops whenever it can be made available.