§ MR. TOMLINSONasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether an improved rifle has been adopted for the Regular Forces; and, if so, when a distribution of Martini-Henry rifles amongst the Volunteers may be expected?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTON, in reply, said, that a final decision upon the subject could only be arrived at when the Estimates to be submitted to Parliament were settled, and these were now under consideration.
§ MR. TOMLINSONsaid, he was not sure whether the reply of the noble Marquess referred to the first or the second part of the Question.
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONsaid, that the question of the distribution of rifles to the Volunteer Force could only be settled in connection with the question of the manufacture of rifles for the Reserve, which would be considerably depleted by that measure.