§ MR. PELLasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether, since the short service enlistment of soldiers commenced in 1870, whereby a man was engaged to serve six years with his regiment and six years afterwards in the Reserve Forces, the sum of £9 2s. 6d. per annum (6d. a day) has not been granted on discharge from Service with the Colours (4d. a day Reserve Force pay, plus 2d. a day deferred pay); whether at the time of calling out the Reserves last month many men so discharged from the Army to the Reserves had not obtained two good-conduct stripes for which on such discharge they had received the sum of £1, and for which they were now also drawing 1s. 2d. a week pay over and above their pay of 7s. a week as embodied Reserve soldiers, and whether 1s. 9d. a week is not the whole average necessary present outgoings from such pay now that a free ration of bread and meat is granted; and whether the Secretary of State is prepared to grant Returns showing the exact present pecuniary position of the soldier, both while with the Colours and afterwards with the Reserves, when the State makes an allowance of 3s. 6d. a week to his wife and 1s. 2d. a week to each of his children?
§ COLONEL STANLEY, in reply, said, although the hon. Gentleman had given him private Notice of this Question as early as possible, he had not been able in the short space of time since he received the Notice to verify the statements the hon. Gentleman had made. He had no doubt, however, that the facts had been accurately stated by his hon. Friend, and for all practical purposes the statement might be assumed to be correct. He should be happy to give the Returns if moved for.