§ MR. WEIR (Ross and Cromarty)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether, with a view to encourage British seamen to enrol in the Royal Naval Reserve, arrangements can be made which will admit of Royal Naval Reserve men performing their annual drill at any naval station abroad.
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. ARNOLD-FORSTER, Belfast, W.)Since 1891 arrangements have been in force for the drilling of a number of men in the Royal Naval Reserve serving abroad, who are unable to return to this country. The number of men, however, who have availed themselves of the privilege has been small. Only 102 men have been drilled at the outstations during a period of six years. Every facility is given to reserve men to perform their drills in advance of time if they are likely to be long from the United Kingdom. They are also permitted to perform arrears of drill on their return. It is not believed that by adding to the facilities for drilling abroad the number of Royal Naval Reserve men would be increased.