§ MR. W. ALLAN (Gateshead)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War what number of the Regular Army is now stationed in Ireland; and whether the number has been reduced since the present Government took Office?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN,&c.) Stirling,The force in Ireland is substantially the same as when the present Government took Office, the actual numbers on November 1, 1893, being 27,710. I may remind the hon. Member that, except for very temporary purposes, the distribution of troops in the United Kingdom is dependent on the barrack accommodation available, and is therefore constant.