§ Rear-Admiral ADAIRasked the Secretary of State for War whether the four battalions territorially associated with Ulster, which will be all that are left after disbandment of the 2nd battalions of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers and of 64W the Royal Irish Fusiliers, bear a less proportion to the population of Ulster than do the number of Scottish battalions to the population of Scotland; and, if this be so, will he say whether he will consider the disbandment of two battalions of Scottish regiments, for which it is difficult to obtain recruits territorially, and so, while retaining the same total number of battalions, properly adjust the proportions and facilitate recruitment?
§ Sir R. SANDERSThe male population in Ulster approximately amounts to 135,000 for each of the four infantry battalions to be territorially associated with that area. The proportion in Scotland is approximately 117,000 to each battalion. The difference is too small to justify the adoption of the proposal made by my hon. and gallant Friend.