§ MR. HICKS BEACH (Gloucestershire, Tewkesbury)To ask the Secretary of State for War whether he has received Memorials from ex-Volunteers in Gloucester and other towns praying that they may be allowed to do six or eight plain clothes drills a year and complete the course of annual musketry with the Territorial Army, on condition that they hold themselves liable for service with the Territorial Army in cases of emergency; and whether, in view of the 1062 reserve that could in this manner be formed for the Territorial Army without in any way taking possible recruits from it, he can see his way to grant the request of the memorialists.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) The reply to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. In view of the fact that the County Associations are at present fully engaged in the formation of the active portion of the Territorial Force it is considered expedient to finish this work before proceeding with the formation of a reserve. In any event it is impossible to take any steps without careful preparation.