§ SIR WALTER B. BARTTELOTasked the Secretary of State for War, When the Return relating to the cost of abolition by purchase, and granted by the House last year, will be presented?
§ SIR ARTHUR HAYTERSir, the portion of the Return which refers to past expenditure is ready, and can be presented forthwith, if desired. The remainder of the Return is a forecast of expenditure for the next 20 years under two systems of promotion and retirement. It can only be arrived at by calculation, made separately for every regiment of Cavalry and Infantry, of the chances of life and retirement for each officer during 20 years. The labour of such a Return will be enormous; and I am unable to say when, in the present over-taxed state of the War Office, the Return can be finished. But if the hon. and gallant Gentleman will consent to a slight variation in the Return, I can give him the information he seeks, based upon the calculated normal yearly cost of retirement of officers of Cavalry and Infantry under the present Warrant and under the Regulationsin force before the abolition of purchase.