SIR. J. DICKSON POYNDERI beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if he will state what Militia battalions he proposes to mobilise for winter training; to what places they are to be stationed what is to be the effective strength of each battallion; and how many months these battalions are to be under training.
§ MR. HALDANEThe twenty battalions of Militia Infantry selected for extended training are as follows: —3rd Batt., The Buffs (East Kent Regiment); 5th Batt., The Royal Warwickshire Regiment; 7th Batt, The Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment); 4th Batt., The Prince Albert's (Somersetshire Light Infantry); 3rd Batt., The Bedfordshire Regiment; 3rd Batt., Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own (Yorkshire Regiment); 6th Batt., Lancashire Fusiliers; 4th Batt., The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles); 3rd Batt., The Oxfordshire Light Infantry; 3rd Batt., The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment; 4th Batt., The King's (Shropshire Light Infantry); 7th Batt., The King's Royal Rifle Corps; 3rd Batt., The Prince of Wales's (North Staffordshire.Regiment); 3rd Batt., The York and Lancashire Regiment; 3rd Batt., The Gordon Highlanders; 3rd Batt., The Queen's Own Cameron High landers; 4th Batt., The Royal Irish Rifles; 5th Batt., The Connaught Rangers; 3rd Batt., The Royal Minister Fusiliers; 4th Batt., The Royal Dublin Fusiliers. The recruits will be trained for six months at the headquarters of their units except in the case of battalions which have been accustomed to carry out preliminary drill immediately before annual training and are given the option of continuing this practice. The annual training of the battalions will under present arrangements be for forty-one days and will take place as usual in the summer. I cannot undertake to foretell what their effective strength will be. I may add that the training is experimental only and we shall watch the results very closely. It may be possible to shorten the period in future years.