HC Deb 16 April 1883 vol 278 cc310-1
COLONEL MAKINS

asked the Secretary of State for War, What was the number of officers and men wanting on the 1st April 1883 to complete the establishment of the Army and the Militia respectively in the United Kingdom?

THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTON

Sir, on the 1st of April the Army at home was 6,256 under its Establishment. A large part of the deficiency in the Army at home is to be accounted for by a cause of which the action has been constant, with the result that the Army is at its lowest numbers about April in each year. The Establishments voted cannot be exceeded, and, therefore, they are only reached just before the departure of the Indian drafts in the winter season, and consequently, after that period, the regiments have to be recruited again by a gradual process up to their full complement. In the Estimates of this year I have arranged to meet this difficulty in a measure. The Militia Force was, on the 1st of April, 22,174 men below its Establishment. Of this number 6,500 belonged to the Irish Militia, for which recruiting has, in recent years, been suspended. As regards this force, the actual numbers have never amounted to the Establishment, which is the extreme limit up to which regiments would be permitted to recruit, and it never can be full, in consequence of the incessant drain upon it caused by recruits passing to the Line,

LORD EUSTACE CECIL

Perhaps the noble Marquess will state what the actual number of the Reserve was at that time?

THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTON

I am afraid I cannot answer that Question without Notice.

SIR HENRY FLETCHER

May I ask whether, in consequence of the great number of men wanting on the Establishment, the noble Marquess will take into consideration the suggestion I made last year, that a certain number of soldiers, on completing their Army engagements—say, up to 25 per cent—shall be allowed to re-engage instead of wandering idly about the country?

THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTON

The subject of the deficiency in the Army and the difficulty of recruiting is under consideration, and many suggestions have been made; but I can hardly be expected to enter into the subject on this occasion in reply to a Question.