§ Mr. D. A. THOMASasked the First Lord of the Admiralty, whether an application for the loan of two 7-pounder guns for the Cardiff Naval Brigade had been refused by his Department on the grounds that no guns are available for supply; whether guns had been lent to Volunteer Naval Brigades in other localities, including those of inland towns; under what conditions guns and rifles are supplied; and, in view of the maritime importance of the chief town in Wales and the fact that 115 cadets and 60 artificers had already been enrolled in the Cardiff Naval Brigade, and the desirability of affording encouragement to the movement, would he reconsider the Cardiff application?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe reply to the first and second parts of the question is in the affirmative. With regard to the third part, if the status of the organization is considered satisfactory, suitable guns are lent, when available, according to priority of application. Rifles are not lent to Lads' Brigades by the Admiralty. As to the fourth part, no suitable guns are available, the stock being entirely exhausted. A number of applications from other towns are in office, which it has been found impossible to meet.