§ *MR. ASHLEY (Lancashire, Blackpool)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War, if he will state why, in the oath which the Territorial soldier has to take on joining, the words defining the limits within which he has undertaken to serve have not been inserted, in view of the fact that such words were inserted in the old Volunteer oath.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. HALDANE,) HaddingtonA member of the Volunteer Force enrolled under the old oath, if volunteering for service abroad, was obliged to be regularly enlisted for such service. This gave rise to considerable difficulties during the South African War. The new form of oath has been drawn up to avoid the necessity for such re-attestation. It has been made quite clear in the form of attestation that the liability undertaken extends to the United Kingdom only, and not to any place outside it except by voluntary undertaking.
§ *MR. ASHLEYpointed out the danger of misapprehension in view of the fact that the liability appears only in the Schedule of the oath and not in the oath itself.
§ MR. HALDANEThe man is fully informed when he takes the oath.