§ MR. JOHN WILSON (Falkirk Burghs)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War how many recruits are attached to the 3rd Battalion Light Infantry and Scottish Rifles for the current year; whether it is contemplated to send these men to Aldershot for their preliminary drill and musketry, and will he consider the advisability of attaching 402 them for the training of 1897 to the 4th Battalions of each regiment at Lanark; and can he inform the House what advantages are to be gained by sending such recruits to Aldershot, instead of training them at Lanark?
§ * THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. BRODRICK, Surrey, Guildford)These Militia battalions contain 134 and 151 recruits respectively, and these men, who have been drilled on enlistment for 49 days, will have their 14 days' musketry training at Aldershot. It is considered when battalions are sent to Aldershot for training, that it is of great advantage to the recruits to carry out their course there under the supervision of the District Inspector of Musketry.
§ MR. J. WILSON (Falkirk)asked whether it would not be equally efficacious, if not more economical, to attach these men to the 4th Battalions of each regiment at Lanark?
§ MR. BRODRICKsaid they had to consider military efficiency as well as economy.