§ SIR JOHN COLOMB (Great Yarmouth)To ask the Secretary of State 487 for War whether the Preliminary Return of the British Army and the Annual General Return, the publications of which, since 1899, have been suspended, will not again be presented to the House; and, if so, whether he proposes, in some other form, to provide similar information necessary to enable the House to know, before discussing Army Estimates, what has been the distribution, state, and condition of the Army during the preceding year.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Brodrick.) The preliminary Return has been abolished. The general Return is being carefully compiled, but the difficulties of such compilation have proved considerable, and I fear no publication can be promised earlier than the beginning of April. The Report of the Inspector General of Recruiting, which will before long be published, will supply a considerable amount of information.