§ Major COATESasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the 5th Battalion, the Queen's, has seven detachments and only five instructors; that it is at its full strength and has enlisted 700 men since 1st April, 1008; and that under paragraph 623 of the Territorial Force Regulation an association is financially penalised for men found inefficient; what steps have been taken to supply the two extra permanent instructors required, regarding which urgent representations were made by the Surrey Territorial Force Association to the War Office on 6th January, 1909, and again on 2nd March, 1909, and by the General Officer Commanding Home Counties Division on 1st January, 1909, to the headquarters Eastern Command; and why these representations have been completely ignored by the War Office and no answer given?
§ Mr. HALDANEThe hon. and gallant Member is under a misapprehension. The representations he refers to have not been ignored by the Department, but have been carefully considered, in conjunction with several other questions of a similar nature. I may state that it has been decided to allow this battalion an additional instructor, making six in all. Official notification of this decision will shortly be issued.