§ MR. HICKS BEACH (Gloucestershire, Tewkesbury)To ask the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to the actual formation of an association of ex-Volunteers at Gloucester; and whether the Government, by way of encouraging the formation of similar valuable organised Reserves in other big towns in the country, could see their way to a grant of free ammunition to the members of such associations.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) The War Office has no official information regarding this association, and for obvious reasons it will not encourage such bodies. Under the Territorial and Reserve Forces Act powers exist far forming a Reserve for the Territorial Force; and later on, when men who have completed their service with the Colours in the Territorial Force have begun to pass out, the question of forming a Reserve will be taken up in conjunction with the County Associations.
§ (Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The following Return gives the required particulars—