§ 12. Mr. CURRIEasked the Under-Secretary of State for War what effect, if any, the Military Service (No. 2) Bill and the reopening of the Derby Groups will have upon either or both the single and the married members of battalions of the Territorial Force which, according to the terms of their enlistment and the generally understood intentions of the War Office, are not destined for active service abroad?
§ Mr. TENNANTWhat the hon. Member describes as the generally understood intentions of the War Office must be read, so far as the unmarried Territorial soldiers liable for Home service only, are concerned, in connection with the First Schedule of the Bill. As regards the reopening of the Derby Groups, both the single and the married men in question will be in the same position as they were before the recent closing of the Derby Groups.
§ 13. Mr. CURRIEasked what effect, if any, the Military Service (No. 2) Bill will have upon the various organised, or partially organised, Volunteer Corps of men over military age; and whether such corps or the new forces to be constituted under the Military Service (No. 2) Bill are to be accorded priority in the issue of arms and equipment?
§ Mr. TENNANTThe Military Service (No. 2) Bill does not apply to men who have attained the age of forty-one years, and so far as the Volunteer Corps in question consists of such men, they remain unaffected by the Bill. As regards the last part of the question, I think it will be obvious that the men to be raised for foreign service under the Bill must be given priority in the issue of arms and equipment over the Volunteer Corps composed of men over military age.