§ MR. CHARLES HOBHOUSETo ask the Secretary of State for War what is the average cost of a soldier belonging to the artillery, cavalry, engineers, and infantry, in England, colonial stations, South Africa, and India, respectively.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Brodrick.) The approximate annual cost of a trained private at home at the present time is—artillery (horse), £61 3s. 4d.; artillery (field), £57 11s. 10d.; artillery (garrison), £54 19s. 10d; cavalry (of line), £59 7s.: engineers, £70 16s. 11d.; infantry, £52 10s. 3d. After 1st April, 1904, when the new service pay comes into operation, in the case of soldiers of two years service and upwards, who will serve for seven or eight years with the colours, the above figures will be increased by about £7 a head. The cost of a soldier at colonial stations is mainly affected by the price of the ration, which varies considerably at different stations but practically in every case it is higher than the home rate. It is not possible, therefore, to give a general rate for the cost of soldiers at colonial stations. In South Africa, at the present time, prices rule very high, and a special scale of ration is in force, causing an increase to the cost of troops in South Africa, as compared with at home, by about £16 per head for food alone. But over and above the excess cost of food, there are numerous other charges that arise from the maintenance of troops in South 1797 Africa—e.g. land and sea transport, special allowance to officers to cover the increased cost of living, and the maintenance of various establishments such as mounted infantry, transport, and remounts, in order to secure efficiency and mobility. These factors make the maintenance of troops in South Africa much more expensive than at home. The pay and allowance of British troops in India are about the same as in this country, but for precise figures regarding the cost of soldiers in India, a Question should be addressed to the India Office.