§ THE EARL OF DARTMOUTHMy Lords I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for War, what proportion of the total amount allocated for the provision of Volunteer rifle ranges still remains in hand, what corps have been assisted, and to what amount.
* THE UNDER SECRETARY or STATE FOR WAR (LORD RAGLAN)My Lords, it will be within the recollection of the noble Earl that several sums, amounting in the aggregate to £170,000, have been set aside for the purpose of assisting Volunteers to form ranges. Of that sum £90,000 was set on one side for the provision of a range for the metropolitan district. That left £80,000 for the provincial corps. Of the latter sum, £52,389 has been expended in assisting 181 different corps. The work which is now being carried on will require a further sum of £12,572. That will leave at the present time an unexpended sum of £15,039. As soon as the exact amount has been determined, the general officers commanding districts will be asked to state their requirements, and the expenditure of this sum will be alloted in the same way.
§ THE EARL OF DARTMOUTHWill any Papers be issued, as in 1899?
§ LORD TWEEDMOUTHI should like to ask whether any progress is being made with the arrangements for providing a metropolitan range. The noble Lord said that £90,000 had been set aside for that purpose, and it would be interesting to learn whether any steps are being taken to supply the much-felt want of a rifle range somewhere near to London.
§ EARL SPENCERIs it being carried out?