§ MR. W. J. CORBET (Wicklow, E.)asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether the services of the acting 527 Roman Catholic Army Chaplains at Portsmouth, Hilsea, Fareham, Dover, Shorncliffe, Colchester, and Cyprus are to be dispensed with; if it is the intention of the Authorities, on the retirement of the nest Roman Catholic Commissioned Chaplain, not to fill up the vacancy; and, if so, whether, in view of the number of Roman Catholics serving in the Army, the War Office will reconsider their determination relative to the dismissal of Roman Catholic Chaplains; and, if a corresponding induction is proposed to be made in the number of Church of England Army Chaplains?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. E. STANHOPE) (Lincolnshire, Horncastle)the acting Roman Catholic Chaplains at Portsmouth, Chatham, and Colchester are to be relieved by commissioned Chaplains returning from Egypt on the reduction of the force there. The acting Chaplain at Cyprus was sent out specially on account of the invalids from Egypt; and as there is no longer an invalid depot there he has been brought homo, and sent to relieve the acting Chaplains at Hilsea and Fareham. It has also been decided to dispense with an acting Chaplain at Dover, as the work there is not considered to be more than sufficient for one Chaplain. No change is contemplated at Skorncliffe. There is no intention of reducing the number of Roman Catholic commissioned Chaplains. The Church of England acting Chaplains will also be reduced, as a consequence of troops coming home from Egypt.