§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTER (Croydon)To ask the Secretary of State for War whether, when the new arrangements are completed whereby recruits for the Line will be sent direct to their battalions instead of being retained at the depot, these recruits will be included in the regimental establishment or will be supernumerary to it; and whether the rank and file establishment of 720 for battalions at Home will include the recruits now at the depots.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) All recruits enlisted for Home battalions, whether drilling first of all at the depot or otherwise, are borne on the establishment of the battalion. It is not proposed to make any change in this respect.