§ 34. Mr. Dayasked the Secretary of State for War the number of men enrolled as recruits in the Regular and Territorial Armies in the 12 months ended, to the last convenient date; whether he is satisfied with the numbers in relation to the shortage to be made good; and whether he 1066 is at present considering a further review of the conditions now offered to recruits?
§ The Financial Secretary to the War Office (Sir Victor Warrender)The numbers of recruits finally approved for the Regular and Territorial Armies during the year ended 31st December, 1938, were 38,827 and 77,142 respectively, as against 26,094 and 45,320 for the preceding year. The strength of the Territorial Army is greater than at any time since the War, and the shortage in the Regular Army is being progressively reduced. With regard to the last part of the question, I would ask the hon. Member to await my right hon. Friend's speech on Army Estimates for 1939.
§ 38. Mr. Kennedyasked the Secretary of State for War the number of applications for enlistment in the fighting forces in Scotland during 1939; and the number enlisted in the county of Fife in the same period?
§ Sir V. WarrenderDuring January, 1939, the number of applicants for enlistment in Scotland into the Regular Army and Supplementary Reserve was 899, of whom 533 were finally approved. Records of applicants for enlistment into the Territorial Army are not collated, but, during the same period, 857 recruits in Scotland were finally approved for the Territorial Army. If the right hon. Member wishes to have the figures for 1938, there were 7,899 applicants for enlistment into the Regular Army and Supplementary Reserve, of whom 4,639 were finally approved, and the number finally approved for the Territorial Army was 8,628. I regret that separate figures for the county of Fife are not available.