§ THE EARL OF DARTMOUTHI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War if he will state how much of the grant of £100,000 taken for Volunteer ranges last year has been expended, and how it has been applied; and whether the unexpended balance of £4,778 of the original grant of £40,000 taken for this purpose in the Military Works Loan Act, 1889 (Head 3, Sub-head 2) has yet been allocated, and in what manner. I do not propose to-day to do more than ask the question, but I hope to have an opportunity after the Whitsun recess of dealing more fully with this very important matter.
LORD HARRISBefore the noble Lord the Under Secretary replies I should like to call attention to the Report of the Committee over which I had the honour to preside, in which they suggested that 422 ranges which had been provided out of Government funds should be at the disposal of the Yeomanry equally with any other branch of His Majesty's forces. I have not observed that any reply has been made by the Secretary of State to that suggestion, either in his speeches or in any communication to officers commanding yeomanry regiments. This is a matter of vital importance to yeomanry regiments, because the contingent grant depends upon whether a yeoman has made himself efficient in musketry, as well as in other ways. The Yeomanry feel under the deepest obligation—I do certainly—to Volunteer corps who have put themselves to considerable inconvenience in order to assist neighbouring yeomanry regiments to obtain grants, as they have not the funds to obtain ranges for themselves. The large increase which is proposed in the Yeomanry will, of course, increase the difficulty, and I trust that the War Office will consider the matter.
THE MARQUESS OF AILESBURYcalled attention to the great inconvenience caused by the closing of ranges at Swindon.
THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Lord RAGLAN)I do not know that it is possible to ear-mark what actual portions of these separate sums have been expended, because they were lumped togother. But, as far as the expenditure has been made up to date, about £77,000 has been allotted out of £170,000, leaving a balance of £93,000, which we have still to deal with. I am sure the noble Earl will agree with me that it would be impossible, in the limits of an answer, to give details of the amounts that have been expended on the different ranges, but there will be no objection to a Paper being laid on the Table, similar to last year, giving the details. As to the use of the ranges by the Yeomanry, if the noble Lord will give notice of the question, I shall be glad to give him a reply on a future occasion. I was not aware that the ranges at Swindon had been closed. I fear, however, that this is not the only place where ranges have been closed in consequence of the improvement of the rifle. We have in 423 hand the sum of money I have mentioned, out of which we are prepared to assist any well-devised scheme brought forward.
§ THE EARL OF DARTMOUTHI should like to ask whether any conditions will be attached to the allocation of the money,
§ House adjourned at five minutes past Six of the clock to Monday next, a quarter before Eleven of the clock.