§ COLONEL WYNDHAM MURRAY (Bath)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War, with regard to the fact that during the years since the Lee-Metford rifle has been in issue to troops sixty-four ranges held by the War Department at home and abroad for Regular troops and Militia have been closed, and only forty suitable for the range of that rifle constructed or approved, will he state what steps the War Department are taking to make wind this deficiency; whether of those held by Yeomanry and 170 Volunteer corps 508 ranges have been closed and only 167 constructed or approved; and whether Volunteer corps are taking steps to combine to pay the cost of fresh ranges, as proposed by the Secretary of State for War.
§ * MR. WYNDHAMThe figures given in the question are correct, except that the number of ranges which it is intended to construct for Regular troops is forty-one and not forty. Volunteer corps are not taking steps to combine for the purchase of ranges, and they have not been invited to do so. The best sites for such ranges will have to be very carefully selected before negotiations with Volunteers can begin, and the scheme under which all this is to done has not yet received the sanction of Parliament.