§ MR. DAVIES (Pembrokeshire)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether, under the present Militia Regulations, while a Commanding Officer of a Militia regiment is permitted to inspect the recruits once or twice only during the course of the recruit drill, he has no official status whatever; and whether he is prepared to amend the Regulations so as to permit a Commanding Officer who may take an interest in the recruit drill to inspect the recruits whenever and as often as he pleases; and, further, that he should be entitled to draw some nominal pay or forage allowance during this period so as to give him an official status?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN,) Stirling, &c.. Under the Militia Regulations the Commanding Officer may inspect his recruits from time to time; and I do not find that the number of inspections is limited. The Committee of 1890, which fully investigated the wants of the Militia, recommended that the Commanding Officer should be encouraged to inspect the recruits; but they did not make any recommendation as to his payment.