CAPTAIN PRICEasked the Secretary to the Admiralty, Whether it is the case that recruiting for the Royal Marine Artillery has been stopped or considerably restricted, and for what reason; also, whether the Government will give honourable Members an opportunity of considering the Report of the Committee on the Reorganization of the Marine Corps during the present Session, and before coming to a decision on the subject?
§ MR. SHAW LEFEVREThe late Board of Admiralty, in November last, suspended recruiting for the corps of Marine Artillery, but not for the larger corps of Marine Infantry. Pending consideration of the questions affecting the general body of Marines, the present Board have not as yet resumed recruiting for the Artillery; but it must not be assumed from this that they have it in contemplation to abolish or extinguish this valuable and distinguished corps. With respect to the Departmental Report of the Committee, I must again repeat that I cannot say whether it will be laid on the Table of the House until the Admiralty have come to a decision upon the general questions now under their consideration affecting the whole corps of Marines.