§ MR. LYELL (Orkney and Shetland)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is correctly reported to have refused the request of the inhabitants of Lerwick to be allowed to raise there a corps of Rifles or Artillery Volunteers, on the ground that he would be unable to assign a definite post for its operations in the event of its mobilisation for Home defence; will he state whether any force has been assigned for the defence of the Shetland Islands; and, if so, what force; what is the destination of the Orkney Artillery Volunteers in the event of mobilisation; and whether he will re-consider his decision and permit the people of Shetland to maintain 512 one or more batteries of Artillery, and prove themselves as able to contribute to national self-defence as their neighbours?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. E. STANHOPE,) Lincolnshire, HorncastleAny attack on Shetland would be met by naval defence, and in view of the heavy expenditure which has been incurred in the defence, by Land Forces, of more vulnerable places, it has not been considered advisable or necessary to establish Volunteer corps in Shetland.
§ MR. E. STANHOPEThe same answer applies to that question, Sir.