§ GENERAL LAURIE (Pembroke and Haverfordwest)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War, whether he has made any calculation as to the cost of the proposed changes in nearly every article of uniform of the officers now serving in the Army, and whether the expense of making these changes is to be met by the public, or to be borne by the individual officer out of his private means.
LORD STANLEYYes, Sir. A calculation of the cost has been made. If my hon. and gallant friend will refer to the special army order of 1st February, 850 he will find that the articles of uniform of officers now serving, which have to be changed are very few, and that with a few unimportant exceptions, the more expensive articles are retained until worn out or, in some cases, until the 1st January 1906. Further the immediate cost which will be borne by the officer will be more than counterbalanced by the ultimate considerable saving. As regards the cost of the introduction of the service dress will my hon. and gallant friend kindly refer to the reply to a Question put by the hon. Member for the West Division of Newington on the 27th January.†As regards young officers joining, the saving is considerable.
§ GENERAL LAURIEMy Question was as to the amount. I do not quite understand what the cost is expected to be, but perhaps I may say, in reference to the calculation that the cost will be inconsiderable, that I hold in my hand an estimate of £32, which is the lowest I can obtain.