§ COLONEL KENYON-SLANEY (Shropshire, Newport)To ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that in 1901, under the title of the Lancashire Royal Field Artillery, the experiment was tried of forming a brigade of three batteries of field artillery, of which one-third consisted of Regulars, who formed the permanent nucleus of the brigade, and two-thirds of Militia, who came up for two months' training annually; whether this brigade is still in existence; and, if so, what have been the results of the experiment as regards both gunnery and general military effectiveness; and what is its annual cost as compared with the cost of a brigade of Royal Field Artillery.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) The brigade to which the hon. and gallant Member alludes is still in existence. The Reports have been satisfactory, especially in view of the amount 1513 of training received. The annual cost of the brigade is £21,000, and of a brigade of Royal Field Artillery on the lower establishment is £40,000.