§ MR. A. M. BROOKFIELD (Sussex, Rye)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether the attention of the Military authorities has been directed to allegations recently made, as to the existence of a traffic for what is practically the sale of Volunteer commissions, conferring on the purchaser the right, if he chooses to exercise it, of assuming honorary military rank; whether any specific instance of this practice has recently been brought to his notice in connection with one of the Metropolitan Volunteer Corps; whether the officers chiefly concerned in the alleged transaction have been called upon to furnish explanations; and whether the name of any person proved 1525 to have obtained a commission in the manner referred to will be removed from the Army List, a notification of the circumstance being duly made in the London Gazette?
§ MR. BRODRICKThe Secretary of State's attention has been called to the specific case referred to in the Question, and he has directed that the appointment to an honorary Colonelcy in the Volunteers be cancelled. Inquiry will also be made in regard to other Officers concerned in the transaction.