§ Mr. ASHLEYasked the Secretary of State for War what duties on mobilisation are assigned to the officers and men of the Army Service Corps at Gibraltar?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for WAR (Mr. Haldane)The duties assigned to the Army Service Corps are supply and transport—but the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief has naturally full discretion to employ the various units in the garrison to the best advantage for purposes of defence.
§ Mr. ASHLEYAre we to understand that should the infantry of the garrison be insufficient the general officer has the right to use them to supplement the infantry?
§ Mr. HALDANEThat is entirely dependent on circumstances. If the infantry were insufficient for some purposes they certainly would be used.
§ Mr. ASHLEYIf they were used in that way who would do the ordinary duties of the Army Service Corps, such as the baking of bread?
§ Mr. HALDANEThe general officer commanding would consider the circumstances.
§ Mr. ANSTRUTHER-GRAYHas not the garrison been very materially reduced?
§ Mr. HALDANEThe number of units has been reduced.
§ Mr. ANSTRUTHER-GRAYIs there not a whole infantry battalion short?
§ Mr. HALDANEIt is not short. The establishment has been readjusted and reduced under the new arrangement. The general policy of the Government is to keep more troops at home and fewer abroad.
§ Mr. ANSTRUTHER-GRAYThe garrison has been reduced by one battalion?
§ Mr. HALDANECertainly.