§ 17. Colonel YATEasked the Secretary of State for War what progress has been made in the enlistment of the new Militia Force that is to form the reserve for the Regular Army?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLConsiderable progress has been made regarding the principles which it is proposed shall govern the organisation and conditions of service for the new Militia Force, but it is not anticipated that recruiting can commence for some time to come.
§ Colonel YATECan the right hon. Gentleman say why? Is no attempt being made to get any men at all?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI am doing the best I can to get reserves for the Territorial Army at the present time, and we are continuing recruiting for the Regular Army. We have these different claims competing in the recruiting market, and we have to deal with them in the order which is conducive to getting the best possible result.
§ Colonel YATEIs it not necessary first of all to get reserves for the Regular Army?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLIf that were so, it would be an answer to the question which my hon. and gallant Friend has put.
§ 20. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Secretary of State for War whether it is proposed to enrol some 20,000 ex-soldiers as an Army Reserve; what are the reasons for this increase of His Majesty's Army; what is the estimated annual cost of this Reserve; and what will be the estimated annual cost when it is called to the colours?
§ 40. Mr. RAFFANasked the Secretary of State for War what is the estimated cost, during the current year, of the addition of 20,000 men to the Army Reserve?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLIt is proposed to re-open Section "D" of the Army Reserve for the enlistment or re-engagement of 20,000 men. This is part of a scheme which was in contemplation when the Army Estimates were prepared, and provision was made for a Reserve rising to 140,000, the figure at which it stood before the War. The present step will only 1216 bring the numbers up to 80,000, and a considerable saving will, therefore, accrue on the amount provided, in consequence of the delay in recruiting the full and authorised reserve. The cost is, at the rate of 1s. per man per day. In the event of mobilisation the cost of maintaining these men is not increased by reason of the fact that they have previously been in the Reserve.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYAre these 20,000 men not required for immediate mobilisation service, but only in Reserve in case of a general big war?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThey are not required for any service, but we must endeavour to form a Reserve for the technical units.
§ Colonel YATEWill the right hon. Gentleman consider the question of increasing the 20,000 to 40,000 or 50,000?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI am deeply sensible of the need and desirability of raising the reserves to the ordinary pre-War strength, but again I am considering the interests of the Territorial Army. I do not wish to prejudice these by going upon the recruiting market for them at the same time, so that they compete with one another. I think that, on the whole, surveying the situation, we can probably afford to delay still further the formation of our Regular Reserves, in order to give the Teritorial Army a fair start.