§ MR. H. H. MARKS (Kent, Thanet)To ask the Secretary of State for War whether officers of cadet battalions who hold certificates of proficiency and of having passed the Army examinations in tactics are, by the existing Volunteer regulations, deprived of the grants and allowances which officers of Volunteer battalions and units holding similar certificates earn for their corps, although all cadet officers are commissioned as officers in the Volunteer force; whether the examinations passed by officers of cadet battalions holding such certificates are identical with the examinations passed by officers in Volunteer battalions and units; and, if so, whether he will consider the advisability of amending the Volunteer regulations with the object of enabling cadet battalions to draw capitation grants for such of their officers as are in possession of proficiency and other certificates for which capitation grants are authorised in respect of officers serving in Volunteer battalions or units.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) It has been a settled policy that cadet battalions shall not involve the State in any expense beyond the provision of arms and ammunition, and the grant of pay and allowances to officers attending courses of instruction. I do not think that any sufficient reasons are now 79 brought forward to justify any departure from that policy.