§ COLONEL EYRE (Lincolnshire, Gainsborough)asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether it is true that the average length of service of the Volunteers is only three years; and, whether he would object to lay upon the Table a Return showing which corps were below this average?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. E. STANHOPE) (Lincolnshire, Horncastle)The average length of service of the whole Volunteer Force on November 1, 1887, was four years and nine months; and, looking to the fact that the great majority of Volunteer corps enrol their men under agreement for a certain period (in no case less that three years), it is extremely unlikely that any corps would be found in which the average service of the members is so low as three years.