§ CAPTAIN NORTON (Newington, W.)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether, now that nearly a month has elapsed since the date of the calling out of the Royal Reserve battalions, and as all those likely to join have presented themselves, he can state what number of men out of the anticipated 45,000 to 50,000 have been obtained; and, of those who presented themselves, how many failed to pass the medical examination.
§ *MR. WYNDHAMThere is no indication that all the men likely to join the Royal Reserve battalions have yet presented themselves. It has several times been explained that the number of 50,000 represented the outside limit required by the Constitution, and not the numbers it is expected to raise. The statement asked for will be published when the lists are closed.
§ CAPTAIN NORTONThe hon. Gentleman has not given any answer whatever to my question. Will he say how many men have been obtained up to the present day?
§ *MR. WYNDHAMThat is not asked in the question on the Paper. That comprises a number of suppositions which are unfounded. We do not expect to get 50,000. As a matter of fact there are about 24,000. They are coming in at the rate of 200 a day.
§ CAPTAIN NORTONHow many out of that number have failed to pass the medical examination?
§ *MR. WYNDHAMThe operation of the scheme is in full swing, and we are not going to publish the numbers and percentages from day to day. At the proper period the whole information will be laid before the House.