§ 47. Mr. McENTEEasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the reasons why non-commissioned officers and men of the Territorial Army employed in the prison service have been ordered to withdraw or not to renew their enlistments, and other prison officers have been prohibited by the new regulations from joining the Territorials?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir John Simon)While the general policy of the Government is to give every encouragement so far as the requirements of the public service permit to men who wish to join the Territorial Army, it is recognised that consent must be withheld in the case of those whose services would be vitally essential to their Department in the event of a national emergency calling for the embodiment of that Army. In the Prison Service regard must be paid to the fact that a high percentage of the staff are reservists and liable to be recalled to the Colours; and for this reason it has been found impossible to allow more prison officers to undertake obligations to military service, but no men who are already in the Territorial Army have been ordered to withdraw.