§ 13. Colonel ASHLEYasked the Secretary of State for War why it is essential for the efficiency of the public service that 1,421 officers should be employed on 1067 the staff of commands in 1921–22, in view of the fact that only 519 were so employed during the early months of 1914?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSThe increase in the number of officers at present employed on the staff of commands, as compared with the number in 1913–14, is almost entirely accounted for by the existing conditions in Ireland and by the numbers required for the British forces stationed in the various countries throughout the world, e.g., Germany, Mesopotamia, Egypt and Palestine, Constantinople. These forces, of course, had no counterpart before the War.
§ Colonel ASHLEYDoes not the answer of the right hon. Gentleman embody a strong argument for reducing our commitments in Palestine, Mesopotamia, and Constantinople?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSThat is not the question.