§ GENERAL LAURIE (Pembroke and Haverfordwest)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he has considered the proposal that such line battalions serving in South Africa as have linked battalions serving in India should be exchanged, thus affording an opportunity for a number of efficient officers and men to take part in active Service, 1452 and giving a change of work to the battalions in South Africa who have been on active service for such a length of time; and whether he can also apply the same system of exchange to other branches of the Service.
§ MR. BRODRICKThe general question of the interchange of units of some branches of the Service between South Africa and other stations has been several times considered, but it has not at present been considered desirable to effect these exchanges. It must be remembered that this interchange can only be carried out at certain seasons of the year, and the present is not a suitable one, though if the war continues it may be desirable to take the steps referred to.