§ MR. ARTHUR LEE (Hampshire, Fareham)To ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the 39th Brigade Royal Field Artillery received orders on 5th March, 1907, to leave Shorncliffe, where it had been stationed since March, 1906, and, after completing 60 its practice at Okehampton, to proceed to Edinburgh on 23rd May to relieve the Scots Greys; whether he is aware that the order to go to Edinburgh was suddenly cancelled on 11th May, and the Brigade sent back to Shorncliffe, and whether, in view of the fact that the married officers and non-commissioned officers of the Brigade have been put to expense by this sudden change of order, in the way of changing houses, storing furniture and baggage, or transferring the same from Shorncliffe to Edinburgh, he will consider the advisability of granting reasonable compensation to such officers, non-commissioned officers, and men for the loss they have thus sustained through circumstances beyond their control.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) I am prepared to recognise that the circumstances under which the orders were countermanded are of a somewhat exceptional character, and may justify the grant of some assistance where individuals have necessarily incurred out-of-pocket expenditure to no purpose. Any applications which may be put forward through the recognised channels will be carefully considered.