§ CAPTAIN MORRISON-BELL (Devonshire, Ashburton)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the fact that a number of captains and subalterns in the Northumberland Fusiliers, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, Lancashire Fusiliers, and Manchester Regiment are being transferred to other battalions, on account of the reduction of the personnel of the Army, much against their wish, he will say what will be the cost to imperial funds for compensation for change of uniform, and cost of passages involved; will those officers be called upon to pay, out of their own pockets, the usual mess subscriptions on transfer to their new units; and, taking into consideration the shortage of officers in the imperial forces, will he take steps to avoid the necessity for these compulsory transfers which are likely to discourage the entrance into the service of young officers.
§ MR. HALDANEIt is quite impracticable at the present moment to 721 give any estimate of the cost referred to in the first part of the Question. The question of the mess contribution is now under consideration. In regard to the last part of the Question, as I have just explained to the House, there is practically no shortage of officers for the peace establishment of the Regular Forces. The reasons for the necessity for the transfers have been explained to the House on a previous occasion.
§ EARL WINTERTONWhen will the right hon. Gentleman be in a position to make a statement as to the cost?
§ MR. HALDANEWhen our inquiries are completed.
§ EARL WINTERTONWill the officers know beforehand what the transfer will cost them?