ADMIRAL FIELDI beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he can inform the House of the number of Army officers who have passed the required examination in the Russian language since the approval by the War Office and Treasury of Regulations awarding gratuities of £150 each to officers who so qualify; and whether there is any limit upon the number who may pass the said examination, and the date when these Regulations came into force?
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANSince the reward for passing in the Russian language was fixed at £150 22 officers have passed. Of these six belonged to the British forces and 16 to the Indian Staff Corps. The question of the limit to the number granted the reward has not arisen, as the sum voted has not hitherto been reached. The present Regulations came into force in January, 1891.