§ Lord CHARLES BERESFORDasked the First Lord of the Admiralty: Is it intended to further reduce the corps of Royal Marines; if so, whether he will state the numbers proposed as a reduction, giving separately the Royal Marine Artillery and Royal Marine Light Infantry; and will he state the numbers reduced of each corps since 1906, and the strength of each corps at present, not including the bandsmen?
§ Mr. McKENNAI cannot undertake to give details of the numbers of Vote A of the Estimates for 1910–11 in anticipation of the presentation of the Estimates to the House. The reduction since 1906 is, in the case of the Royal Marine Artillery, 800; and in that of the Royal Marine Light Infantry, 946. The present strength of the Royal Marine Artillery is 3,057, and of the Royal Marine Light Infantry, 13,208. These numbers do not include twenty-seven Staff appointments.
§ Lord CHARLES BERESFORDWhen will the Estimates be presented?
§ Mr. McKENNAIn the course of a very few days. I cannot give the precise date. It is a question of printing.