§ CAPTAIN BAGOT (Westmoreland, Kendal)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if he can state what percentage of all the horses which were registered by payment of an annual fee to the owners in the United Kingdom, as available for remounts in case 174 of war at the time of the outbreak of the war in South Africa, have since been purchased by Government; and whether the system of registration has continued in force during the war and is still in force.
§ MR. BRODRICKThe general Return includes draft horses as well as remounts. I am afraid the figures would take some time to make out. The reply to the last paragraph is in the affirmative.
§ SIR BLUNDELL MAPLE (Camberwell, Dulwich)Will the Secretary for War give orders to discontinue the payment of these registration fees, inasmuch as the Remount Department have taken all the available horses they can?
§ MR. BRODRICKNo, Sir, I cannot give any pledge of that kind.