§ MR. WEIR (Ross and Cromarty)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that, owing to the steamer "Lovedale," provided by Mr. David M'Brayne to convey the Seaforth Militia from Kyle of Lochalsh to Stornoway on the night of 11th June, having accommodation for only 370 of the men, the remaining 230 were left to pass the night and part of the following day on the platform at Kyle Station, with the result that having only recently returned from a hot climate they suffered through the inclemency of the weather, the night being cold, wet, and stormy; and, seeing that two of the men have since died from the effects of the exposure, while it has resulted in others also being invalided, 824 will he consider the expediency of making a small grant to the dependents of those who have died.
LORD STANLEYI am not aware of the illness or deaths referred to; but, under any circumstances, I am afraid that the regulations would not admit of the grant of any pecuniary compensation to the dependents.