42. Major Whiteleyasked the Secretary of State for War what preparations had been made before the announcement of the doubling of the Territorial Army for the supply of uniforms to men joining as a result of that announcement; and how soon a sufficient supply of clothing will be forthcoming?
§ 57. Lieut.-Colonel Macnamaraasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the long delay in issuing Territorial uniforms and equipment; that at present there is apparently to be a three or four months' lag before Territorial recruits are to be issued with uniforms; whether he will treat as urgent the issuing of uniforms to all Territorials before their summer camps and work out a time-table for issue of uniforms to meet this end; and will he in future see that the Army has sufficient stocks ready, especially in time of international tension, to meet expansion requirements?
§ Mr. Hore-BelishaThere was no interval between the decision of His Majesty's Government to double the Territorial Field Army and the public announcement of that decision. 25,000 to 30,000 suits are in fact being issued to the Territorial Army every week, and 1,500,000 suits are on order. The issue of uniforms to all Territorials before the summer camps is being treated as a matter of prime urgency, and it is hoped that this can be arranged.
Major WhiteleyWould my right hon. Friend assure the House that a supply of uniform caps and of canvas overalls which can be used to protect the uniform shall be available at the earliest possible moment?
§ Mr. Hore-BelishaYes, Sir; we shall do our best to meet every reasonable suggestion.
Viscountess AstorCan the right hon. Gentleman guarantee that, the next time suits are ordered for women Territorials, they will be ordered by a woman and not by a man?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MacnamaraIs it true that the Territorials in future are only to have one uniform instead of two; and, if so, what is to happen if these uniforms are contaminated with gas in war? Further, may I ask why the War Office has ignored and not answered letters from the Wholesale Clothing Manufacturers' Federation of Great Britain, who have made certain recommendations about the issue of uniforms?
§ Mr. Hore-BelishaWith regard to my hon. and gallant Friend's second supplementary question, he was not good enough to give me notice of it, or I should have been able to answer it. As he is aware, Sir Frederick Marquis, a man of real experience, has now taken charge of this matter on behalf of the War Office. With regard to the first question, Territorials will have two suits, but during the time of pressure which is upon us, when as many men have enlisted in a week as in a normal year, I am sure the Territorial Army will show us some forbearance.