§ 20. Mr. HUNTasked the Under-Secretary for War whether, in view of the fact that soldiers are passed into the Reserve before they are eligible for re-engagement for pension and in view of the fact that the War Office instruction limiting such engagements to 10 per cent. was adopted in order that we might have larger Reserves, he can say how it is possible to increase the Reserve by limiting re-engagements to 10 per cent.?
§ Mr. TENNANTSoldiers who are eligible for re-engagement have not passed into the Reserve. As the number of men serving with the colours is limited by the Establishment fixed by Parliament, it follows that the more men there are re-engaged and so serving under conditions which preclude them from passing to the Reserve eventually, the less room there is within the Establishment for men who will join the Reserve on completing their colour service.