§ Mr. GREENEasked the Secretary of State for War whether any members of the Territorial Force had complied with Army Order E 624, setting forth the terms of an agreement whereby members of that force were invited to subject themselves to service abroad in any place outside the United Kingdom, and, if so, how many; and whether, in view of the fact that the Territorial Force was intended for the purpose of Home defence, he could state what steps it was proposed to take to fill, with adequately trained men, the gaps in the Home Defence Force which would be occasioned by the absence of the existing Territorialists?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for WAR (Mr. Haldane)The number of non-commissioned officers and men who have accepted the liability to service abroad amounts to 10,345. Should it ever prove necessary to employ these men for service abroad in time of war, it is not contemplated that they will be so used until the Territorial Force has had a considerable amount of training on embodiment. By that time the Territorial Force Reserve and the men who on embodiment were recruits should together more than suffice to fill their places.
§ Mr. GREENECan the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that no further pressure, beyond the rather invidious badge, will be used to induce members of the Territorial Force to undertake foreign service?
§ Mr. HALDANEI suppose the hon. Member is referring to some circulars or postcards, of which I knew nothing until they were shown to me.