§ Mr. STANTONasked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will reconsider the position of members of the Volunteer Force throughout the country who are requested to undergo seven days' bombing or fourteen days' musketry training at stated centres; and whether, seeing that the only allowances are a free railway pass and billeting, imposing hardship on these men who are anxious to do their duty by their country, that these men are not granted the ordinary Army pay or separation allowances, while both these allowances were granted to the old Volunteers and Territorials in their annual training, that these men, who have provided their own uniforms, do not get any kit allowance to make up for wear and tear while undergoing this special instruction, and that these men are called up under Section A of the Volunteer Act of 1916, and may be mobilised at any moment if the Government considers invasion imminent, this force will receive special consideration?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI assume that my hon. Friend refers to invitations, extended from time to time, to members of Volunteer Corps to undergo special courses of training. Arrangements are made to secure that Volunteers attending such courses are not put to any out-of-pocket expenses, but I am afraid that I cannot guarantee anything further at present. I would remind my hon. Friend that the attendance of Volunteers at these courses is voluntary, whereas in the case of the Territorial Force the attendance was a definite obligation. It has also been arranged that, where Volunteers have provided serviceable uniform clothing at their own personal expense, a certain sum shall be payable to the Volunteer in return for which the uniform will become public property.