§ MR. RADCLIFEE COOKE (Hereford)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether, having reference to Army Order 29, of 1900, paragraphs 14 and 15, men of Volunteer "waiting companies," who have been passed to the Reserve, are supernumerary to the establishment of their Volunteer battalions during the period prior to calling up for service and departure from England, or whether during such period they are to be included in such establishment; whether, with reference to paragraph 12a of the said Army Order, arms are to be issued to men of waiting companies when in waiting or only when called up for service; whether it is intended that Volunteer commanding officers should clothe and equip the men of waiting companies when called up for service; and whether it is intended that men of waiting companies should drill with the battalions until called up for service.
§ *MR. WYNDHAMThe waiting companies are not supernumerary to the establishment until actually called up. Like other Reservists, they will not have arms issued to them until called up; arms are lent to Reservists to do their drill or training. When called up they will be equipped in the same way as the service companies. As regards drill, they may be considered as Volunteers for all purposes and may drill with their battalions, but they incur the ordinary liabilities of a Reservist.