§ Lord EDMUND TALBOT (for Viscount Castlereagh)asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the dissatisfaction that exists among the county Territorial associations in respect of their relations with the Army Council; and whether, having regard to the harm that is likely to be done to the Territorial movement if such a state of affairs is allowed to continue, he will call together a representative confer- 1112 ence of the county associations and the War Office with the object of placing their relations upon a more satisfactory footing?
§ Mr. HALDANEI am aware that complaints are made from time to time by associations in the course of their dealings with the War Office; these complaints arise mainly in regard to the acceptance of the schemes for providing land and buildings for the accommodation of the various units. Not the least difficult part of the business attendant upon the reorganisation necessary to form the Territorial Force has been that of settling the provision of accommodation, which has meant that existing drill halls, ranges, etc., have had to be reallotted, and new ones provided, and while the associations have put forward their schemes with commendable eagerness, it has been necessary, in the interests of administrative efficiency and economy to require both the production of more detailed information and the exercise of more restraint in the scope of their proposals than many associations have apparently understood to be necessary. This has led inevitably to delay, which I am convinced, however, has not been without advantage in giving opportunity for a maturer consideration of many points involving expense, administrative convenience, and legal formalities. I can assure the House that every step practicable is being taken to expedite the settlement of these questions and so remove all cause for complaint. From my statement in the House on Monday it will be seen that the greater part of the work has already been got through, and that what remains ought not to take long. With regard to the latter part of the Noble Lord's question, we are often in communication with the Council of County Asociations, and we have in the present instance offered to discuss with them the financial situation as it appears at the completion of the second year of the existence of the force, an offer which they have accepted.
§ Lord EDMUND TALBOT (for Viscount Castlereagh)asked the Secretary of State for War whether the permanent staff of the Territorial Field Artillery still remains on the old rate of pay of 3s. 9d. a day as compared with 4s. 2d. in the Regular Service; what reason exists for this distinction; and whether he proposes to take any steps to place the permanent staff of the Territorial Force upon the same footing as that of the Regular Army?
§ Mr. HALDANEThe rates of pay are correctly stated in the question. The removal of the distinction between the rates is now under consideration.
§ Colonel BATHURSTasked the Secretary of State for War whether he can state the number of Territorial battalions that have failed to make themselves efficient in musketry during the last year; the number of rounds issued at the public expense fired per man in such battalions; and whether he can see his way to lay down that all ammunition issued at the public expense to the Territorial Force shall be expended only in firing such practices as are laid down in the Musketry Regulations or approved by the Army Council?
§ Mr. HALDANESixteen battalions may be considered to have failed to make themselves efficient in musketry, and of these seven failed to put any of their men through the standard test, while the remaining nine failed to test 50 per cent, of their men. Three of these battalions fired no ammunition, and in the case of the rest the average number of rounds fired per man varied from five to fifty-two. As regards the last part of the question, under the Musketry Regulations a maximum of twenty rounds per man is allowed for competitions and voluntary practice at the discretion of the commanding officers. This expenditure is carefully watched, and any expenditure not in accordance with the Regulations is brought to the notice of the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief concerned. As a matter of fact, less ammunition was expended in private practice in 1909 than in previous years. I may add that special measures are being taken to meet the requirements of those battalions which failed to qualify owing to want of range facilities.