§ MR. E. STANHOPE (Lincolnshire, Horncastle)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if he can now state what further steps he proposes to take in the direction of equalising the number of regiments of Infantry serving at home and abroad?
* THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. CAMPBELL - BANNHRMAN,&c) Stirling,In the Estimates for the present year, as the right hon. Gentleman is aware, an arrangement was contemplated which would practically have equalised the number of battalions of Infantry serving at home and abroad; but this arrangement was postponed because of the necessity of temporarily strengthening the garrison in Egypt. Part of the additional force has been already withdrawn, and I hope that at no very distant date a further reduction may be found possible, which would enable us to attain more; nearly the object pointed to in the right hon. Gentleman's question.