7. Colonel ALAN SYKESasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he has had any offers of the services of any Volunteer regiments; and, if so, whether the services of any such regiments have been accepted, and will he state the names of any such regiments?
§ Mr. TENNANTYes, Sir, certain offers of service have been made to, and have been accepted by, the King. It is not considered desirable to make public notification of the regiments accepted until the form of enrolment for Volunteers has been decided. It is hoped that this may be settled in the course of the next few days.
Colonel SYKESWhy have the services of the Cheshire Volunteer Regiment, comprising 9,000 men, which were offered two months ago, not yet been accepted?
§ Mr. TENNANTIt is not considered desirable to make public notification of a particular unit; therefore I am unable to give the hon. Member an answer.
Colonel SYKESWill not the right hon. Gentleman inform the authorities of that particular regiment privately through the ordinary channels?
§ Mr. TENNANTOh, yes, they will undoubtedly be informed.
8. The HON. and GALLANT MEMBERasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he has assigned to any special department of the War Office the administration of the Volunteer Force; and, if so, to which department?
§ Mr. TENNANTThe administration of the Volunteer Force has been assigned as a temporary measure to the department of the Director-General of the Territorial Force, which will in this matter work under the Adjutant-General.
10. Colonel SYKESasked whether, when the services of the county Volunteer regiments have been accepted, such regiments will communicate direct with the War Office on all matters of administration and discipline, or will they communicate through the Central Association of Volunteer Training Corps?
§ Mr. TENNANTAn announcement on this matter will be made in due course. The exact procedure to be followed is still under the consideration of the Army Council.
§ 48. Mr. PERCY HARRIS (Leicester, S.)asked the Prime Minister whether, seeing that the military authorities are entrusting the Volunteer Force of the United Kingdom with various important duties, the Government will make an appeal to all men over military age, or disqualified from joining the Regular Army, to enrol in this force, so as to increase their num- 1974 bers and relieve more Regular troops for service abroad; and whether, in order to encourage the movement, he will make it clear that the Government attaches importance to the force and desires the men to volunteer for the duties entrusted to them?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe Volunteer Force has in several cases given valuable assistance to the Army in many ways, and the Government hope that men disqualified for Regular or Territorial Forces, if not employed on duties of national importance, will join the Volunteer force and in it be available for necessary services.