HC Deb 12 July 1938 vol 338 cc1087-8
10. Captain Cunningham-Reid

asked the Secretary of State for War whether officers of the Territorial Army are upon the same footing as Regular officers as regards the £50 grant to officers successful in passing Army interpretership examinations; and, if not, whether, in view of his desire to give encouragement to the Territorial Army, he will remove any discrimination in this connection against Territorial officers?

The Secretary of State for War (Mr. Hore-Belisha)

For an officer to be selected for language study he must hold a permanent commission in the Regular Army. The object of the present system is to ensure an adequate number of regular Staff Officers with certain required language qualifications. A language award is not earned merely by passing an interpretership examination, but the officer concerned is sent abroad in his military capacity for a period of as much as three years in some cases.

Captain Cunningham-Reid

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider allowing this grant to Territorial officers who have to go abroad to study for these examinations?

Mr. Hore-Belisha

I think my answer shows that it would be difficult in the case of Territorial officers, who only undertake to serve in their own localities, to send them abroad for as much as three years at a time.