§ MR. PIRIE (Aberdeen, N)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if he can state the method adopted to ascertain the wishes of the embodied Militia battalions as to whether they desired to be disembodied, and whether the views of the officers and men as a whole were taken on the matter; also whether any battalions which have expressed such a desire are still embodied; and, if so, can he name them.
LORD STANLEYThe following instructions were sent to general officers commanding: "You are requested to ascertain confidentially the wishes of the officers and men of all Militia units serving in your command as to being disembodied or remaining embodied during the winter." The general officers duly reported that the views of officers and men were taken. All battalions which were reported as wishing to be disembodied were so disembodied in December.