HC Deb 25 February 1875 vol 222 cc840-1
COLONEL MURE

asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether there is any truth in the current report that men included in the First Class Army Reserve enlist also in the Militia, and are therefore returned twice over as part of the defence of the Country; and, whether there is any effective machinery in existence to prevent such fraudulent enlistment?

MR. GATHORNE HARDY

Very few cases have been brought to the notice of the War Department of members of the First Class Army Reserve enrolling for the Militia, and where convictions have been obtained the men have been punished by imprisonment and struck off the strength of either Militia or Reserve. The machinery for preventing fraudulent desertion is not adequate, and is under consideration. Prosecutions result on detection of offenders.