HC Deb 20 May 1914 vol 62 cc1939-40
60. Mr. ALAN SYKES

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in order to place Territorial battalions who go into camp at Whitsuntide on the same basis as regards obtaining recruits as those who go into camp in August, he will alter the Regulations so as to enable, in the case of the Whitsuntide campers, the twenty drills which must be performed before the annual training to be performed before the end of July, and by this means enable these battalions to recruit right up to camp, as the inducement to recruit is very-much stronger before camp than afterwards?

Mr. TENNANT

This point was very carefully considered before the new-Regulations contained in Army Order 146 of this year and the Special Army Order were issued, and it was held that unless the recruit has performed his full number of drills before going to camp, the benefit he will derive from camp will be small. The Army Council do not see their way to make a further alteration in the Regulations.