§ 20. Mr. BENNETT-GOLDNEYasked the Secretary of State for War whether there is an ample supply of arms, ammunition, and equipment over and above that necessary for the full establishment of each and every unit of the Territorial Force with which to arm and equip the large numbers of men whom he expects to join the Territorial Army on mobilisation, namely, 190,000 units of the National Reserve, 105,000 ex-Territorial soldiers, and 140,000 rifle club members, with the 880 Territorial Reserve men, in all 435,000 men in round numbers?
Mr. BAKERI would refer the hon. Gentleman to a reply to a question on this subject put by the hon. Gentleman the Member for South Birmingham on the 17th March.
§ 23. Mr. NIELDasked whether the appointment of brigade commander of the Territorial Force can now only be held by an officer of the rank of substantive colonel; and what is the amount of the consolidated (namely, inclusive) pay of officers holding such appointment?
Mr. BAKERThe appointment is open to colonels and lieutenant-colonels. In practice colonels have been appointed to these posts. The normal rate for officers now appointed is £500 a year.
§ 24. Mr. NIELDasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that under the recently proposed adjustment of officers' pay the sum which may he drawn by a lieutenant-colonel commanding a battalion for bare pay and command pay (exclusive of any allowance, e.g., for lodging, fuel, light, servants, etc.), will not in fact be greater than the consolidated pay of a substantive colonel holding the appointment of brigade commander of the Territorial Force; whether he will explain why the promotion of an officer on the active list to a command carries a lower salary than that payable to him previous to such promotion; and will he state what steps he proposes to take to remedy a state of things so inequitable and so prejudicial to those officers who have brigade commands in the Territorial Force?
Mr. BAKERI am not at present in a position to give any information upon points arising out of the new scehme for officers' pay. The point raised by the hon. Gentleman shall receive consideration.