§ 58. Mr. Eckersleyasked the Secretary of State for War whether area commanders are required to address officers' training corps, both senior and junior, within their areas with a view to encouraging recruitment in the Forces of the Crown, including the Regular Army, the Supplementary Reserve, the Territorial Army and the Officers Emergency Reserve?
§ Mr. Hore-BelishaThere is no requirement, but area commanders do frequently act in the spirit of the question.
§ Mr. EckersleyWould the right hon. Gentleman consider the desirability of encouraging the tapping of those very good sources of recruiting for these various Forces?
§ Mr. Hore-BelishaI am aware of the goodness of the sources, but I think that area commanders as a whole do avail themselves of it. I should be very pleased to encourage it in any way possible.
§ Mr. ThurtleHave area commanders always the gift of eloquence?
§ 64. Mr. Bellengerasked the Secretary of State for War what are the estimated annual requirements of recruits necessary to maintain the Army at full strength; and whether these requirements are now being fully met?
§ Mr. Hore-BelishaThe number of recruits required depends on the establishment in any particular year. It is estimated that 60,000 recruits may be required for the Regular Army next year. I hope we shall have obtained 40,000 2664 recruits before the expiry of the current financial year.
§ Mr. BellengerDo not these figures disclose a rather serious position; and, in view of current events abroad, has the right hon. Gentleman any further proposals for bringing the Army up to establishment at an early date?
§ Mr. Hore-BelishaThe War Office has done its best to exploit the voluntary system to its utmost, and recruiting has been doubled this year as compared with last year.
§ Mr. BellengerIn view of the right hon. Gentleman's last reply, may I ask whether he is now of opinion that the voluntary system is not capable of fulfilling the requirements of the Army?
§ Mr. Hore-BelishaI made no such statement.