HC Deb 23 February 1900 vol 79 cc922-3
DR. FARQUHARSON () Aberdeenshire, W.

I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for War whether twenty out of the hundred men of the Imperial Yeomanry quartered at Kensington Barracks have been affected with pneumonia; whether, out of their pay of 5s. per diem, 4s. is deducted for rations: and whether any greatcoats have been issued to them, and whether to secure an overcoat many of them have paid a shilling a day to one of the regular troops for the loan of his greatcoat.

MR. WYNDHAM

The Imperial Yeomanry Committee have supplied me with the following information:—There has been no ease of pneumonia. The pay of the troopers is 1s. 2d. a day, with 3d. messing allowance and free rations; from this 4d. only is deducted. The company was equipped with greatcoats regimentally. The officer commanding reports that all were equipped on February 10th.

MR. YOXALL () Nottinghamshire, W.

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether any of the Imperial Yeomanry not yet embarked are still without pay at the end of three; weeks of daily drill, since being sworn in; whether it was intimated to volunteers for the Imperial Yeomanry that all equipments would be found for them; and whether, notwithstanding, it is necessary for an Imperial Yeoman himself to provide a portion of the outfit, such as underclothing, boots, and gaiters.

MR. WYNDHAM

In regard to the pay full instructions on this subject have been issued by the War Office and the Yeomanry Committee. If any case of non-payment has occurred it would appear to have been due to local inadvertence. In regard to the equipment, a capitation grant was made which was accepted by the Yeomanry Committee as sufficient to cover the provision of such articles of equipment as were considered necessary. It is possible that as the Yeomanry were raised under local arrangements the commanding officers may, in some cases, have considered it necessary that the men should be more completely equipped, but there is no official knowledge of such cases. It is, however, understood that local funds have been subscribed to meet demands of that character.