HC Deb 21 July 1904 vol 138 cc764-5
MR. CHARLES HOBHOUSE (Bristol, E.)

To ask the Secretary of State for War what was the total number of recruits finally passed into the Army in the last completed twelve months from all sources.

MR. ARNOLD-FORSTER

The figures are as follows:—Regular Forces, 42,216, Militia, 40,808. I may add that a considerable proportion of the recruits enlisted in the Militia subsequently passed into the Line, but I am unable to give the exact figures.

MR. CHARLES HOBHOUSE

Then do I understand that a substantial number of the Militia recruits are included in the figures 42,216.

MR. ARNOLD-FORSTER

Oh, yes, undoubtedly. The last figures I have are about 19,000, and the total must be reduced by that amount, because those figures are duplicate.