§ 21. Lieut.-Colonel POWNALLasked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the fact that, while the Royal Horse and Royal Field Artillery and the cavalry are to be reduced by almost one-third, and motor transport has in a large measure taken the place of horse transport in the Royal Army Service Corps, the reduction of horses borne on the establishment for the year 1922–23 is less than 10 per cent. on the 1914–15 figure; and whether it is possible to effect further large reductions in the number of horses?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSReductions in the number of horses will be possible as troops are withdrawn from such stations as the Constantinople area, Egypt and the Rhine. On the other hand, the formation of new branches such as medium and pack artillery and the signal corps involve the provision of horses which were not required in 1914–15. The matter is not one on which a full statement is possible within the limits of a Parliamentary answer, but my hon. and gallant Friend may rest assured that we do not include in any establishment more horses than after careful consideration we find to be required.