Major WHITEasked the Secretary for War what are the duties of the Territorial Advisory Committee to the War Office?
§ Mr. HALDANEThe duties of the Territorial Force Advisory Council, formed in 1908, are to advise the Army Council upon such of the larger questions of policy affecting the Territorial Force as the Council feel they may require special opinion upon in addition to that which is at their disposal from the ordinary official sources. I am under considerable obligations to its members, who have many calls on their time, for their assistance, although, now that the county association organisation is completely established, there are necessarily fewer occasions for the assembly of the Council.
MARQUESS of TULLIBARDINEMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman if it is a fact that the Advisory Council have only met five times, and not once within the last year?
§ Mr. HALDANEAs I have said, the Advisory Committee was called into existence when we were settling the larger questions of policy. These are settled, and have been handed to the associations, which have their own councils. The county associations advise us as to what takes place under this heading.
§ Viscount CASTLEREAGHIn view of the singularly light duties of the Council, would it not be better if it were dissolved?