§ Mr. MAURICE HEALYasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether any accounts have been published by the Board of Control of Regimental and Garrison Institutes; if not, whether it is intended that accounts shall be published and when; what is the amount of the balance which the Board now have in hand; how such balance is intended to be expended; of how many members the Board consists; whether the members are paid a salary or other emoluments (including travelling expenses) and, if so, of what amount; how often the Board meets, and whether the members attend the meetings regularly; how many persons are employed by the Board, and in what capacity; the total amount spent by the Board on administrative expenses up to date; whether Army officers attend the meetings of the Board or of its committees; if so, whether payments of any kind are made to such officers, and the amount and nature of such payments; and whether the business of the Board has come within the cognisance of the Retrenchment Committee; and, if so, whether any report or recommendations have been made with reference to it?
§ Mr. TENNANTIt is contemplated that a balance sheet shall be published for the information of commanding officers up to the 31st December, 1915. The central fund amounts at the present time to approximately £125,000. The manner in which the fund to be expended will be decided by the Army Council. The members of the Board, who are twenty-three in number, receive no emoluments or allowances whatsoever from the central fund. The Board meets once a month, or oftener if occasion1382W requires. Two sub-committees for the transaction of ordinary business meet weekly. The attendance of members is regular. I stated the number of persons employed by the Board in the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Gloucester on 24th January. The total amount spent on administrative expenses to 31st December is approximately £8,500. The following Army officers are members of the Board: Colonel B. E. W. Childs, Major-General S. S. Long, C.B., Lieut.-Colonel G. A. Malcolm, Colonel J. Stollery, V.D.; and representatives of the following Commands: Aldershot, Eastern, Irish, Northern, Scottish, Southern, Western, London District, Central Force. These officers receive no payment as members of the Board. So far as I am aware, the answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.