§ Sir H. CARLILEasked the Secretary of State for War whether he can give the actual strength of the Special B Reserve battalions during the past ten months of the current year as compared with the establishment; and whether he can indicate how the War Office proposes to deal with the deficiency?
§ Colonel SEELYThe establishment of the special and extra reserve battalions (excluding officers) is 63,178; the average strength of these battalions between 1st January, 1912, and 1st November, 1912, was 48,370. The deficiency is now receiving my careful attention.