§ MR. ASHLEYI beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether, at the present rate of recruiting, all vacancies in the establishment of the Special Reserve will be filled up during the winter; and whether he will raise the minimum age of enlistment to eighteen years with a view to securing the efficiency of the force.
§ MR. HALDANEThere are not as yet materials on which it is possible to say with the least degree of certainty what the rate of recruiting for the Special Reserve will be during the winter. So far it has gone up substantially, but this is all I can say. I am adverse to raising the age as suggested in the latter part of the Question, for reasons which I have more than once stated to the House.
§ MR. ASHLEYIf the right hon. Gentleman has no data to go upon, how can he say there will be room for 24,000 of the unemployed?
§ MR. HALDANEsaid the question was, would the increased rate of recruitment continue and would they get the 24,000 men they required.
§ MR. ASHLEYI beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether, in the event of enlistment of 24,000 unemployed into the Special Reserve during the present winter, that force will be 8,202 over establishment, saving reductions caused by death, discharge, desertion, and enlistment into the Regular Army; and whether he intends to seek power to increase the establishment of the Special Reserve.
§ MR. HALDANEThe reply to the first part of the Question is in the negative. The wastage from all sources was estimated at about 8,000, and by adding this number to the present deficiency 1605 of about 16,000 the figure 24,000 was arrived at as the probable number of vacancies during the forthcoming winter. As regards the second part of the Question, the reply is in the negative.
§ MR. ASHLEYBut suppose the wastage is less than the estimate of the right hon. Gentleman?
§ *MR. SPEAKERThat is a hypothetical Question.