§ COLONEL DENNY (Kilmarnock Burghs)I beg to ask the Under Secreretary of State for War if he will state how many Army Medical Staff Messes there are in this country, in India, and in the Colonies respectively, and how many of these have come into existence since the introduction of the Army Estimates in February; do the War Office contribute anything towards the expenses of these Messes; and what contributions do the authorities make to the Messes of British regiments and Native regiments in India?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. BRODRICK,) Surrey, GuildfordThe organisation of a Mess depends largely on the officers themselves, and need not be reported to the War Office. So far as the Director General is aware, there are four medical Messes in this country, none of which have come into existence since February. The Director General is making inquiries as to whether further Messes are desired, and in any such case the War Department will be prepared to give facilities by the provision of a building. In India the Mess allowance to a British regiment is from 150 to 200 rupees a month, and to a native regiment 100 rupees a month.