§ MR. ASHLEY (Lancashire, Blackpool)To ask the Secretary of State for War what percentage of men who, during the last ten years have completed a service of seven years with the colours and five years in the Reserve, have been permitted to remain in the Reserve for a further period of four years.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) I would refer the hon. Member to the figures given on page 110 of the General Annual Report [Cd. 3365], where the number of men re-enlisted or re-engaged in Section D during the last ten years are shown, and also the number of men discharged from the other sections of the Reserve on completion of engagement. It must be pointed out that these figures are not limited to men originally enlisted for seven years, and also that the numbers entering Section D include some men who go direct from the colours after the completion of twelve years service and consequently have no previous Reserve service.