§ MR. HICKS BEACH (Gloucestershire, Tewkesbury)To ask the Secretary of State for War on what grounds the 4th Militia 1055 Battalion of the Gloucestershire Regiment has been ordered to disband and the 3rd battalion of the same regiment has been retained; when, according to the Return [Cd. 3364, of 1907], there were wanting 443 rank and file to complete the establishment of the 3rd battalion, and only 118 to complete that of the 4th battalion.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) The question of the retention of Militia battalions for the Special Reserve was considered on the grounds of their suitability to fulfil the administrative conditions which will be in future required of the majority of the Special Reserve battalions. The 3rd battalion of the Gloucester regiment, being at the depot, was accordingly retained.