§ MR. GRIFFITH-BOSCAWEN (Kent, Tunbridge)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that great difficulty has recently been placed in the way of Volunteer officers, who are anxious to make themselves efficient, at Wellington Barracks, Hythe, and other Military schools; that one officer of the 1st Volunteer Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment, who applied early in February for admission to Wellington Barracks in March, was refused on the ground that the school was full in March, and on subsequently applying for April was informed that in April there would be no school at all; and that another officer in the same regiment, who applied last December for admission to the School of Musketry at Hythe for any month in 1894, was refused on the ground that there were no vacancies at Hythe in 1894 at all; and whether he will consider the possibility of giving increased facilities to Volunteer officers of obtaining military instruction?
§ * THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. CAMPBELL- BANNERMAN,, &c.) StirlingReferring to the specific instances quoted, the officer who wished to attend at Wellington Barracks in March, when there was no vacancy, has been informed that he can attend the April class. At the Hythe School of Musketry the only vacancy available in 1894 for the Militia and Volunteers of the Thames District was filled before this application was received. Speaking generally, the numbers which can he taken at the several Schools are necessarily limited; but, subject to those limits, there is every desire to afford Volunteer officers all possible facilities for making themselves efficient.