§ VISCOUNT DALRYMPLE (Wigton)To ask the Secretary of State for War what is the estimated annual cost of a battery of field artillery of the Territorial Army, excluding the pay of the officers and men, but including the cost of the permanent staff, horses, maintenance of sheds, stores, and equipment and ammunition; and what is the first cost of the guns, limbers, harness, wagons, sheds, &c.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) The estimated annual cost of a field battery of the Territorial Force, excluding pay and rations but including the other items named in the Question, is, roughly, £2,000. The first cost of the guns, vehicles, harness, stores, and sheds is about £11,000. This includes £1,200 for conversion of guns and carriages into quick-firing as well as the original cost of the guns and carriages. The total future 296 out-of-pocket expenditure of an initial character for each battery will be £1,600 if sheds are available, if not £750 per battery must be added.