asked the Secretary of State for War whether, seeing that two regiments have now been allowed to add to their Colours the name of a battle which took place 150 years ago, he can give any approximate date at which the Fusilier regiments will be allowed to add the name of the Relief of Mafeking to their Colours?

The question of the "Relief of Mafeking" amongst the honorary distinctions to be awarded for the South African war was thoroughly considered at the time and the Army Council do not now see their way to reopen the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for War why, seeing that establishments of the Regular Army, Home and Colonial, in 1908–9 were 169,114, and for 1914–15 are 168,500, making only 873 fewer to-day than in 1908–9, it was lately laid down that our annual requirements for recruits are now 34,700 for the whole Army against 37,700 in 1907; and why we need 3,000 fewer recruits to-day than six years ago for practically identical establishments?

I agree with the hon. and gallant Member that the establishments of 1907 and of to-day may be taken for the purposes of this comparison, as practically identical, but I must not be taken as endorsing the aggregates he gives for the years 1908–9 and 1914–15, which are fallacious, inasmuch as they exclude the Indian establishments, and they include officers. The difference between the figures 34,700 and 37,700 is to be accounted for by the improvement in waste in recent years, and by the alteration in terms of service in the direction of lengthening the term and thus reducing the number of recruits required

Would the right hon. Gentleman say what he means by waste?

Yes; invaliding principally, and desertions.

Have desertions not increased to a great extent lately?

No, Sir; not lately.

asked whether there is an ample supply of applicants to fill staff nursing vacancies in Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service?

Yes, Sir, the supply is ample.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War how many rounds of rifle ammunition per head are now available for use by the Regular Army, the Territorial Force, and the National Reserve?

It is unusual and undesirable to publish information of this nature.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give me any indication as to what ammunition is served out to members of the National Reserve?

Yes, I can give those figures.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give them to me?

Certainly.