§ MR. COURTHOPE (Sussex, Rye)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War what bonus has been promised to Reservists on their returning home from the Colonies in case of national emergency.
§ MR. HALDANENo bonus has been promised, or is necessary.
§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTER (Croydon)asked whether the statement made by the President of the Local Government Board, that these men could be got back easily by means of a bonus or some special payment, was a casual or an authorised remark.
§ MR. HALDANEreplied that he had not the words of the President of the Local Government Board before him, but he presumed that what he referred to was the fact that their expenses would be paid on coming back under the mobilisation regulations. This was no new business. It was the policy of the right hon. Gentleman himself.
§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERI deprecate such a statement. There is no foundation whatever for it. May I again ask whether this statement of the President of the Local Government Board was entirely unauthorised?
§ MR. HALDANEPerhaps the right hon. Gentleman will quote the words and I will make inquiry.
§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERThe words were that these persons would be got back by a special payment or bonus, or words to that effect.
§ MR. WALTER LONG (Dublin, S.)I desire to ask you, Sir, whether it is not contrary to the long-established practice of the House for Ministers, in answering a Question, to indulge in controversial statements which cannot be met by those against whom they are made?
§ *MR. SPEAKERI always thought that Ministers stood to be shot at without being allowed to shoot back.
§ MR. ASHLEY (Lancashire, Blackpool)Is it the fact that railway, etc., fare to the barracks is paid in case of mobilisation whether in the Colonies or in England?
§ MR. HALDANEYes; it is all explained in the Regulations.
§ MR. PIKE PEASE (Darlington)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War what Reserve soldiers receiving Reserve pay are resident in the Colonies; to what respective arms do they belong; what are the numbers residing in each of the principal Colonies; and why is the number limited to 10,000.
§ MR. HALDANEThe figures are too long to read out to the House, bat I will have them printed in the Votes and Proceedings. The limit has been fixed at 10,000 in view of the immediate requirements on mobilisation.
§ The following are the figures referred to— 263
| Return of Army Reservists who heave permission to reside in the Colonies. 1st September, 1908. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Africa, South. | Africa, West. | Bermuda. | Ceylon. | China and Hong Kong. | Gibralter. | India and Burmah. | India, West. | Jamaica. | Malta. | Mauritius. | Straits Settlements. | British Guiana. | Australia. | Canada. | Falkland Islands. | New Zealand. | Uganda. | British Central Africa. | General Total. | ||||||
| Household Cavalry | - | - | - | - | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | — | — | — | — | 5 | |
| Cavalry of the Line | - | - | - | - | 134 | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | 42 | 2 | — | — | — | 3 | — | 21 | 326 | — | 16 | — | — | 546 | |
| Royal Artillery | - | - | - | - | 72 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 24 | 15 | 140 | 3 | — | 7 | 1 | 17 | — | 29 | 598 | — | 16 | — | — | 933 | |
| Royal Engineers | - | - | - | - | 43 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 2 | — | — | 1 | — | 2 | — | 15 | 200 | — | 6 | 1 | 1 | 284 | |
| Foot Guards | - | - | - | - | - | 40 | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | 12 | 240 | — | 6 | — | — | 304 |
| Infantry of the Line | - | - | - | 138 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 30 | 3 | 417 | 8 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 27 | 1 | 78 | 1,527 | 1 | 44 | — | — | 2,295 | ||
| Army Service Corps | - | - | - | 65 | 2 | — | — | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | 2 | 157 | 1 | 4 | — | — | 237 | ||
| Army Ordnance Corps | - | - | - | 5 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | — | 2 | 18 | — | 1 | — | — | 30 | ||
| Royal Army Medical Corps | - | - | 44 | 3 | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | 2 | — | — | — | 1 | — | 6 | 81 | — | 7 | — | — | 147 | |||
| Army Veterinary Corps | - | - | - | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | 1 | ||
| Royal Malta Artillery | - | - | - | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 315 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 315 | ||
| Total: All Arms | - | 541 | 19 | 15 | 4 | 64 | 22 | 603 | 16 | 1 | 332 | 2 | 55 | 1 | 165 | 3,153 | 2 | 100 | 1 | 1 | 5,097 |
§ MR. ARTHUR LEE (Hampshire, Fareham)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War how many Regular Reservists have already received the permission of the War Office to leave this country and emigrate to the colonies whilst still drawing their Reserve pay; and will he lay upon the Table of the House a copy of the Regulations and conditions under which this permission is granted.
§ MR. HALDANEThe figures will be printed in the Votes and Proceedings in reply to the Question just answered. The Regulations for Reservists residing abroad will be found in Paragraphs 57 to 62 of the Army Reserve Regulations, and those for the grant of pay will be found in Articles 1207 and 1208 of the Royal Warrant for Pay as amended by Army Order 100 of 1908.
§ MR. ARTHUR LEEIs any pass or document issued to the Reservists specifying the conditions? If so, can we have a copy of it?
§ MR. HALDANEThey cannot go without obtaining leave, and I suppose it is given in writing.
EARL OF KERRY (Derbyshire, W.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War what undertakings have been given to Reservists in respect of passage money on their returning from the colonies in case of immediate necessity for their service.
§ MR. HALDANEIf the noble Earl will kindly refer to Paragraphs 146 to 148 of the Mobilisation Regulations, 1906, he will find the arrangements laid down for the mode of recall of Reservists to the Colours, and in Paragraphs 241 and 242 he will find the provision for their travelling expenses and allowances.