§ SIR J. W. MACLURE (Lancashire, Stretford)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether any reply has yet been received at the War 1306 Office from Major-General Swaine, commanding the North-Western Division, with reference to the formation of a Volunter engineer corps whose headquarters would be within the Salford hundred of the county of Lancaster, and whether the offers of 1,000 men suitable for service in such a corps have been received; and whether he will undertake that the inefficiency of the arrangements in the formation of engineer Volunteer corps previously should not be used as an argument against the acceptance of so large a body of men under regulations made by the War Office sufficiently stringent to guarantee efficiency.
§ * MR. WYNDHAMThe recommendation from the General Officer commanding the North-Western District has now been received, and the Secretary of State for War is prepared to authorise the formation of a corps of four companies of Fortress Engineers.