§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTER (Croydon)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War what instructions, if any, have been given to the Committee appointed to advise on the formation of a Territorial Army; whether the Committee have received any guidance from the Army Council as to the part the proposed new Army is expected to play in time of war; and whether the Committee are empowered to make recommendations with respect to the Regular Army.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. HALDANE, Haddingtonshire)No formal terms of reference have been given to this Committee, but I propose to ask their advice on a number of questions which I shall put before them. These will not include questions concerning the Regular Army.
§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERasked whether the questions would be laid before the House, and whether the Committee had received any guidance from the Army Council.
§ MR. HALDANEThe Army Council is represented on the Committee. General Stopford is there with the full confidence of the Army Council. I am asking the Committee specific questions, with a view to a general scheme. When I am able to produce that general scheme I shall be able to answer the questions.
§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERasked whether the reference would permit the consideration of the question of the utilisation of the Militia as an adjunct to the Regular Army.
§ Mil. HALDANEI have put specific questions to the Committee, and the answers will be the material for my scheme.