SIR HENRY FLETCHERasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether, considering that all Inspecting Officers of Volunteers concur in the opinion that nothing contributes more to the efficiency of the Volunteer Force than their attendance at Volunteer camps, he will not sanction the attendance this season of all Volunteers who have applied to go into camp, without restriction as to numbers, and grant to them the full allowance as in previous years, and in accordance with the Volunteer Regulations, 1881, section 29, paragraph 913?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONIt is stated in the Regulations for the 1167 Volunteers that a portion of the Force will in each year be assisted to form regimental camps of exercise. The original intention was that each corps should be assisted to camp out once in three years. As at first only a portion of the Force made application, the corps applying were allowed to camp out year after year. But this year a very large number of applications to camp out have been received; and to keep the expense within the grant it has been necessary to place a limit on the number. Accordingly, instead of excluding entire corps, as would have been the case under the original intention, the number of permissions granted has been limited to 80 per cent of the numbers of the corps applying.
§ MR. TOMLINSONasked whether, since the arrangement described, some corps had not sent in an intimation that they could not go into camp with the reduced allowance?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONsaid, he could not without Notice give a full answer to the Question. He believed some intimations to the effect stated by the hon. Member had been received.
SIR HENRY FLETCHERasked whether, considering the great importance of camp training to Volunteers, the Government could not introduce a Supplementary Vote, so that all Volunteers who applied might be enabled to go into camp?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONsaid, that was a question which could more properly be discussed on the Estimates.