§ SIR SAMUEL SCOTT (Marylebone, W.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War how many battalions of regular soldiers have actually been disbanded; what are the numbers of officers, non-commissioned officers, and men, respectively, who have been affected by the order; and what are the numbers of officers, non-commissioned officers, and men, respectively, of the disbanded battalions who have retired from the service, been absorbed in existing battalions, or joined the Reserve.
§ MR. HALDANE1. Seven of the ten battalions which it was decided to reduce have not existed as separate units since the 15th November last. Two battalions, now in South Africa, are in process of reduction, while the reduction of one battalion (the 3rd battalion, Coldstream Guards) has been postponed for the present. 2. The strength of the 576 nine battalions on the 1st September last was: officers, 237; non-commissioned officers, 751; privates, 5,179. 3. The following return gives the information asked for:—
Officers. N. C. O's. Privates. Retired or discharged on completion of service, etc. 6 5 44 Transferred to remaining battalions of regiments 6 514 2,843 Transferred to other regiments or staff. 15 23 416 To Reserve 20 322 Deserted 25 27 562 3,650
§ SIR SAMUEL SCOTTI beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether a bounty was offered to men of the disbanded battalions in order to induce them to join other battalions of the Regular Army; and, if so, what is the total amount of money paid in these bounties.
§ MR. HALDANEYes, Sir, bounties up to £10 have been offered to induce the men to join battalions of other regiments. The offer is still open, and so the total amount cannot yet be ascertained.