§ Mr. HODGEasked the Under Secretary of State for War the length of time during the last twelve months each of the bands of the following regiments have been absent from regimental duties on account of private engagements: the whole brigade of Guards, the Black Watch, the 16th Lancers, Scots Greys, 18th Hussars, the 87th Royal Irish Fusiliers, the 1st Battalion Buffs, and the Green Howards (York)?
§ Colonel SEELYNo regimental duties have been avoided during last twelve months owing to private engagements. It is the practice for a bandmaster accepting an engagement to arrange with another bandmaster of the brigade for the performance of any duty which may interfere with that engagement. The number of exchanges of band duties were:—
Grenadier Guards 15 Coldstream Guards 19 Scots and Irish Guards None. Royal Highlanders 49 days. A small proportion only of band away on these occasions.
16th Lancers 19 days. 2nd Dragoons 71 days. Including thirty-six days at Japan Exhibition. The engagements at this place were accorded to the band as a mark of courtesy to His Royal Highness Prince Arthur of Connaught, President of the Exhibition Committee, and an officer of the regiment, and must, therefore, be regarded as exceptional.
18th Hussars 26 days. 1st Royal Irish Fusiliers 53 days. 1st East Kent 36 days. 2nd Yorks 15 days.