§ MR. HICKS BEACH (Gloucestershire, Tewkesbury)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether it is now finally decided to disband the twenty-three Militia battalions detailed in the Army Order of 23rd December, 1907, thereby removing these historic battalions from the establishment and, in some cases, allowing others of less efficiency to become reserve battalions, or whether he could see his way in these cases to amalgamate the two battalions of a county under a neutral name, giving equal rights to the officers and non-commissioned officers of the two battalions according to seniority, and thereby avoiding the soreness and dissatisfaction that now prevails in the battalions that are to be disbanded.
§ MR. HALDANEThe disbandment of these Militia battalions is quite finally 428 decided. Steps have already been taken to dispose of the men belonging to them. All the officers, with the exception of the Lieutenant-Colonel Commanding, may, with their own consent, be attached to a remaining Militia battalion of the same regiment, or in certain circumstances to a battalion of another regiment. With regard to a neutral or a combined county title name being given to Militia battalions converted into Reserve battalions, the Army Council are prepared to consider any proposals which may be put forward.