§ MR. LAMBERTTo ask the Secretary of State for War whether any Militia battalions have given their consent to being merged in the short-service Army; and whether it is proposed to proceed with that scheme without a direct sanction from Parliament.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Arnold-Forster.) No request of the kind referred to in the Question has been made to Militia battalions, nor has it ever been contemplated that Militia battalions should be merged, but that they should continue to exist under somewhat changed conditions of service. No such change can be made without the consent of officers and men serving, and the consent of Parliament will not be required in the event of any such change being made. It is not intended at present to give this opportunity to the Militia.