§ SIR HOWARD VINCENT (Sheffield, Central)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if it has been decided to drop the portion of the Territorial and Reserve Forces Bill referring to the Militia; and if, seeing that the Yeomanry is also to be left as at present, he will consider the advisability of abandoning the Bill altogether, and proceed, without further waste of time, to the formation of divisions and brigades in the Volunteer Force, under commanders who, in London as in the provinces, will lead them on mobilisation, in accordance with the recommendations of the Duke of Norfolk's Commission of some years back.
§ MR. MYER (Lambeth, N.)Will the right hon. Gentleman consider the desirability of discharging inefficient lieut.-colonels and appointing regular officers in their stead?
§ MR. HALDANEThe hon. and gallant Member can hardly regard this as a serious Question. If he does he cannot have paid attention to the words of the Leader of the Opposition at the close of the debate on Monday last, and to my reply.†
† See (4) Debates, clxxv., 1176–80.
§ SIR HOWARD VINCENTMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman, is there anything in the published statement that the Militia portion of the scheme is to be withdrawn?
§ MR. HALDANEI have not seen the published statement, but if it purports to be what the hon. and gallant Gentleman says, there is not a word of truth in it.