§ 11. Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that numbers of men of the type suitable for officers attested at recruiting offices at the end of last year under the group system on the instructions of the Inns of Court Officers' Training Corps, being given a Government certificate of acceptance, with instructions to report to the Officers' Training Corps when their group was called up; whether, now the group has been called, recruiting for the Officers' Training Corps has been suspended and these men have been told off to go into the ranks; and, if so, what steps he proposes to remedy such a repudiation of a direct contract?
§ Mr. TENNANTNo Government certificate was ever given that any man would on being called up be accepted for the Inns of Court Officers' Training Corps, or, indeed, for any other unit. What wag said to the men referred to was, I understand, said on the authority of the officer commanding the Inns of Court Officers' Training Corps only, and was to the effect that, under the conditions then existing, the men in question would be accepted for enlistment in this corps. Before this undertaking, if undertaking it can be called, could be fulfilled the corps was closed for enlistment by orders issued by the War Office. I will send the hon. Gen- 644 tleman a paper giving the conditions under which commissions are granted, and he will see from this that they can be obtained from the ranks as well as from the Officers' Training Corps.
§ Sir W. BULLWhere are we now to send men who seek for commissions? I understand the Officers' Training Corps are refusing men.
§ Mr. TENNANTAll men who are candidates for commissions must either go through the ranks of an Officers' Training Corps or through the ranks of the Army, and as the Inns of Court are closed there is very little opportunity of getting commissions.
§ Sir W. BULLAre there any other corps?
§ Mr. TENNANTThe Artists sometimes has vacancies, and so has the Inns of Court, but not at present.