§ COLONEL WELBYI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that at the literary examination to qualify Militia candidates to compete for Army commissions, held in December last, the mathematical papers were the same as set for the competitive examination for entrance to the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, and the other papers, the same as for that examination, or for entrance to the Royal Military College, Sandhurst; that the standard of qualifying marks in the December examination had been raised 100, without notice to candidates; that out of about 146 who attended to be examined in all subjects only 29 qualified, whereas in the previous April 90 qualified out of about the same number; that in the April examination the 34th candidate made 4,607 marks, while in the December one the 29th made 4,600, or seven marks less than the candidate 55 places lower in April; and whether he can see his way to remedy this inequality, by specially admitting to the competitive examination those who have suffered by it?
§ MR. WYNDHAMThe number of candidates for the Militia Literary Examina- 510 tion in December, 1898, was 119 and not 146; otherwise the facts are correctly stated. In pursuance of the policy indicated in my reply to the last question, the Secretary of State has decided to admit to the further competitive examination so many of the candidates next below those who reached the qualifying minimum, as the exigencies of the service seem to demand.