§ MR. BRAND (Gloucester, Stroud)asked the Secretary of State for War, What is the number of the Infantry of the Line (exclusive of depôts) now serving at home; what is the number serving abroad; what is the number serving in India, and in the Colonies; and, what will be the probable distribution on 1st January 1887?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN) (Stirling, &c.)The strength of the Infantry of the Line at home (exclusive of depôts) is 33,803. The Infantry depôts at present contain 14,615 men. There are 81,746 abroad, of whom 52,217 are in India, 15,765 in the Colonies, and 13,764 in Egypt. It is at present proposed that on the 1st of 1506 January next the Establishment of Infantry of the Line should be thus distributed—At home, 52,956; in India, 50,998; in the Colonies, 16,110; and in Egypt, 6,269. As the number of battalions in Egypt will have been reduced, the establishments of the depôts will be 9,459.