§ MR. HUNTI beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether the Government will provide the band instruments for the new Special Reserve; and, if not, are the band instruments of the old Militia battalions to be used; is he aware that these band instruments are the private property of the officers of the battalions, and that for eleven months in the year they will be used in connection with training Special Reserve recruits, involving heavy wear and tear during this period; and whether he will take steps to prevent the officers of the battalions from being saddled with this expense and the usual extra pay of the band sergeant from their own pocket.
§ MR. HALDANEThe band of a Reserve battalion will be in the same 757 position as the band of a Militia battalion is at present, and will officially exist as such during the period the battalion is out for annual training. During the non-training period the band may accept private engagements, as Militia bands do—but it cannot be ordered to play, as bandsmen of a Reserve battalion serve under the same condition as a private of the Special Reserve, their liability to be called out being limited by Paragraph 30 of the Territorial and Reserve Forces Act. The band instruments of the Militia units will be used by those units when they are converted into Special Reservists.
§ MR. HALDANEI do not think that arises out of the Question on the Paper.