§ Mr. HUNTasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the fact that Infantry officers entered the Special Reserve under the regulations that they should serve for 12 months attached to a Regular unit, and that the War Office now will not allow them to serve for more than six months, he could say if the War Office has power to break its own regulations, under which officers agree to serve and to which they are bound by military law?
§ Colonel SEELYUnder the provisions of the Royal Warrant of 3rd April, 1908, an officer appointed to the Special Reserve of officers was to be liable to undergo instruction with a unit for such period as might be laid down in the regulations. Paragraph 219 of the Special Reserve Regulations laid down that the normal duration of probationary training would be twelve months. In the interests of the public service as well as in order to attract a larger number of candidates it has been deemed desirable to shorten the period to six months.
§ Mr. HUNTCan the right hon. Gentleman say why the Special Reserve Regular officers are not allowed to serve the full term of twelve months while others are allowed to do so?
§ Colonel SEELYI think I answered that last week when replying to a question put by the hon. Gentleman.
§ Mr. HUNTCan the War Office alter any regulation as it likes after officers have agreed to the regulations they are to serve under?
§ Colonel SEELYI think I explained in the reply I then gave that we were quite entitled to alter the regulations if we thought it in the public interest to do so.