§ 36. Mr. CROOKSasked whether recruiting officers have called attention to the fact that recruits are not joining the Colours so readily as they might on account of the uncertainty of the allowance for dependants being adequate and being paid weekly; and whether any steps will be taken to remove this uncertainty?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the WAR OFFICE (Mr. H. Baker)No reports to this effect have been received, but to remove all uncertainty as to the adequacy of the provision made for a soldier's wife and family a leaflet is being issued, a copy of which I will send to the hon. Member. As I have already stated, arrangements are being made for the weekly payment of separation allowance in cases in which it is desirable.
§ Mr. HARRY LAWSONWill steps be taken to insure the insertion of that leaflet in the Press?
§ Mr. WORTHINGTON EVANSWill it be necessary to make application in order to have the separation allowances made weekly, or will it be done automatically?
§ Mr. WORTHINGTON EVANSIs it intended to pay the monthly allowance to relief committees and allow them to act as bankers, or will the hon. Gentleman explain what is intended?
§ Mr. BAKERSubstantially the hon. Member's interpretation is correct, but I will send him a copy of the Army Order, which will be published very soon.
§ Sir CLEMENT KINLOCH-COOKEasked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will say what special arrangements 366 have been made to obtain recruits for Lord Kitchener's Army; whether a committee has been appointed to arrange for publicity in connection with the movement, and if so will he give the names of that committee?
§ Mr. TENNANTAs regards the general arrangements in regard to recruiting there is nothing to add to the statements which have already been made in this House and in the Press. If the committee to which the hon. Member refers is that which is being formed of Members of this House he should, I think, address himself to my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury. I am not aware of any other committee.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEWill the hon. Gentleman give me some information about the committee?
§ Mr. TENNANTI will endeavour to do so when I have had time to consult my hon. Friend.
§ Mr. ROBERT HARCOURTDoes the hon. Gentleman say that a circular has been issued from the War Office to Members of this House?
§ Mr. TENNANTI am not aware of any.
§ Mr. H. W. FORSTERasked the Under-Secretary for War if non-commissioned officers who have taken their discharge from the Army can join in their former rank the Army now being recruited?
§ Mr. TENNANTAs was stated by my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary on Thursday last, ex-non-commissioned officers would be enlisted in the first place as privates, but may be selected immediately for promotion to non-commissioned rank. Ex-soldiers with previous experience as non-commissioned officers need have no fear, I think, that their experience will not be used.
§ Mr. FORSTERIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that a considerable number hesitate to join the new Army on that account, and can he not see his way, the need for non-commissioned officers being so great, to relax the strict rules?
§ Mr. TENNANTI will represent what my hon. Friend has said to the Adjutant-General, and see if anything can be done.
Mr. DEPUTY-SPEAKERA number of private notice questions have reached me. I propose first to take those which arrived before the House, met. The others I will take later in the order in which they were handed in.