§ MR. WINSTON CHURCHILL (Oldham)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he will grant the Returns respecting the Volunteers, Royal Garrison Regiments, Army Reserve, and Military Works, which appear on today's Notice Paper.
§ The Returns referred to are as follows—
| Volunteers—Address for Return respecting the Volunteers, in the following form:— | |||
| Officers. | Men. | Battalions. | |
| Number of Volunteer battalions | |||
| Number of battalions qualified under new regulations for inclusion in Army Corps Scheme | |||
| Number required by Scheme | |||
| Number of efficients who have earned Capitation Grant, 1902 | |||
| Strength of Volunteers— | |||
| 1st day of January, 1903 | |||
| 1902 | |||
| 1901 | |||
| 1900 | |||
| 1899 | |||
| Shortage of Officers— | |||
| 1903 | |||
| 1899 |
§ Military Works and Stores—Address for Return respecting Military Works and Stores, in the following form:—
| Military Stores. | Artillery. | Fortifications. | Barracks. | |
| Amount of money expended;— | ||||
| 1899 | ||||
| 1900 | ||||
| 1901 | ||||
| 1902 | ||||
| 1903 |
§ Army Reserve—Address for Return showing the state of the Army Reserve, in the following form:—
| 1st Class. | 2nd Class. | 3rd Class. | |
| Strength, 1st day of January, 1899 | |||
| Strength, 1st day of January, 1893 | |||
| From 1st day of January, 1899, to 1st day of January, 1903— | |||
| Killed in action | |||
| Died | |||
| Discharged through disease | |||
| Discharged for misconduct | |||
| Re-engaged to serve in India | |||
| Re-engaged during demobilisation with units at Home | |||
| Number who have less than two years to serve in the Reserve | |||
| Number who will complete Army service and pass into the Reserve next year | |||
| Number of Reservists required under the Army Corps Scheme on mobilisation of the Six Army Corps |
§ Royal Garrison Regiments.—Address for Return showing the annual cost of the Royal Garrison Regiment now stationed at Malta; the number of cases of drunkenness, of 652 courts-martial, and of diseases treated in hospital which have occurred within the last twelve months; the number of women and children borne on the strength of the Regiment; and a 653 comparison of these figures with the respective figures in any particular Regular Battalion in the same garrison; the number of Royal Garrison Regiments sanctioned by Parliament; and the number as yet formed.
§ MR. BRODRICKMy hon. friend has been already told that these Returns will be granted, except in the case of that for the Army Reserve, some details of which cannot be granted. Perhaps he will be good enough to see that the form of the address is duly corrected.
§ MR. WINSTON CHURCHILLDo I understand that the Return will be granted subject to this modification.
§ MR. BRODRICKYes, Sir.