§ 20. Lieut.-Colonel POWNALLasked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the fact that, while the number of horses borne on home and foreign establishments has dropped from 28,739 for the year 1914–15 to 26,214 for the year 1922–23, i.e., close on 10 per cent., there has been an increase during the same period, after excluding the officers and other ranks employed in Palestine and Iraq, in the number of veterinary staff employed; and whether it is possible for the veterinary staff to be reduced at least in proportion to the reduction in the horses?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSI am aware of the discrepancy referred to by my hon. and gallant Friend and I explained it in the course of the Debate on Army Estimates on 22nd ultimo. Owing to the geographical distribution of troops in Egypt, Constantinople, the Rhine Area and Silesia, it is necessary, in order to ensure efficient supervision, to have a larger veterinary staff than would otherwise have been required. When these forces are reduced or withdrawn, and when the Territorial Army boarding-out scheme has been closed down, the veterinary services will be correspondingly reduced.