§ VISCOUNT HARDINGEwished to ask the noble Earl the Secretary for War when it would be convenient to lay on the table of the House the new Regulations proposed with respect to the Volunteer Force which had been promised by the noble Earl's lamented predecessor?
EARL DE GREY AND RIPONsaid, there appeared to be some misunderstanding as to the Regulations to which the noble Viscount alluded. The late Sir George Lewis had not promised to lay the Regulations before Parliament: what he said was, that the nature of those Regulations would be explained when the second reading of the Bill was moved in another place, which it was hoped would be in the course of this week. It was impossible to lay regulations on the table until it was known what would be the nature of the engagements to which Parliament was prepared to agree; but if the clauses of the measure should be adopted, there would be no objection to lay the Regulations on the table of either House. His noble Friend the Under Secretary for War, in moving the second reading of the Bill, would state the arrangements he proposed to adopt, provided the main conditions of the Bill were agreed to. Of course, the regulations would only relate to the terms of efficiency prescribed as a condition for participating in the Government allowance, not to the general conduct of the force.