§ 28. Brigadier-General NATIONasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office the present shortage of all ranks in the Regular Army at home and in the Territorial Army?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the WAR OFFICE (Mr. Duff Cooper)The deficiencies on 1st February were as follow:—Regular Army 5,400 and Territorial Army 44,000.
§ Brigadier-General NATIONIn view of the fact that the deficiency is continually increasing, what steps is the hon. Gentleman taking to remedy it?
§ Mr. COOPERThe deficiency in the Regular Army does not continue to increase, but continues to decrease, and these figures show a deficiency only in regard to establishment and not in regard to normal figures. So far as the Regular Army is concerned, there is no ground for any anxiety with regard to the figures. As to the Territorial Army, I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply which I gave to a question last week stating the special steps which we were taking for recruiting.
§ Brigadier-General NATIONWill the hon. Gentleman say what those steps are?
§ Mr. COOPERThe large deficiency is probably due, we believe, to the fact that camps did not take place last year.