§ MR. BRODIE (.Surrey, Reigate)To ask the Secretary of State for war if the Coast Defence Companies of the Royal Garrison Artillery will at a comparatively early date be divided from the Heavy, Siege Train, and Mountain Batteries, these three being joined to the Royal Field Artillery, the Coast Defence Companies, being either formed into a separate body or amalgamated with the Royal Marine Artillery; whether the subalterns of the Coast Defence Companies may have to serve equally by land or sea, and, if so, will such officers be allowed to transfer to the Royal Field Artillery without loss of seniority; whether, in view of the system now in force by which preference of choice for the Royal Field Artillery is given to those cadets who obtain the highest marks in riding, horse-mastership, and field artillery drills, he will say what steps he proposes to take to maintain the standard of efficiency of the cadets recommended for first commissions in the Royal Artillery, seeing that the system in force is likely to encourage them to confine their energies almost solely to the three subjects above-mentioned instead of their working at all the subjects in the general list; and whether he proposes to adopt a similar system of selection in the case of the Royal Engineers.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) The reply to the first part of the Question is in the negative. As regards the selection for the Field Artillery, as the cadets must make qualifying marks on every subject, not only each term but at the final examination, they must necessarily work at all the subjects. As regards the Engineers, there is no intention of changing the present system, which works quite satisfactorily.