§ MR. RENDALL (Gloucestershire, Thornbury)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War what the difference in the cost to the State would be if the the soldiers of the Army and the Reserve Forces were provided only with clothes satisfying the necessities of physical warmth and comfort without regard, as at present, to considerations of adornment, colour, and advertisement.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (MR. HALDANE, Haddington)It would be very difficult to make a calculation on the lines suggested in the Question and the matter would not appear to be of sufficient importance to justify the considerable labour involved. I may point out that assuming that the suggestion wore adopted a very large saving would probably result owing to the paucity of recruits attracted by an unadorned uniform.