§ MR. WEIR (ROSS and Cromarty)To ask the Secretary of State for War, having regard to the fact that during the years 1902, 1903, 1904, and 1905, there were 1,705 desertions from the various barracks in Scotland, will he state how many men were quartered each year at the respective barracks at the time the desertions from such barracks took place.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) My hon. friend is doubtless aware that the numbers quartered at the barracks concerned varied from time to time during the years in question. Accordingly the compilation of the figures necessary to give a satisfactory answer to the Question would involve considerable labour which there would not appear to be sufficiently strong grounds to justify.