§ SIR LEONARD LYELL (Orkney and Shetland)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether the War Office has received a memorial from Shetland asking for permission to establish a local Volunteer force, either of rifles or artillery; and whether the Government will be prepared to entertain favourably this request, considering that there is no Militia force raised in the county, and (except the Royal Naval Reserve, which is confined to fishermen) there is no opportunity offered for the people of the islands to qualify themselves to take a part in the defence of the country.
*MR. J. POWELL-WILLIAMSThe memorial has been recently received, and will be duly considered. It will be difficult, however, to utilise their services in schemes for national defence.