§ 29. Lieut.-Colonel Sir Thomas Mooreasked the Secretary of State for War how many members of the Auxiliary Territorial Service are normally required by infantry battalions; and how many of these would be utilised to look after the sergeants' mess?
§ The Financial Secretary to the War Office (Mr. Richard Law)Members of the Auxiliary Territorial Service are not allocated to infantry battalions, but to infantry training centres. The number of posts at an infantry training centre which may be filled by Auxiliary Territorial Service personnel is 90, and of these 8 are for the sergeants' mess.
§ Sir T. MooreIn view of the natural inclination for cooking which women possess rather than men, would it not be a good idea if women could be utilised in the cookhouses of the mobile battalions as well?
§ Mr. LawI do not think it would be practicable to have women in fighting battalions which might have to fight in any theatre of war and in any conceivable circumstances.
§ Sir T. MooreIs my hon. Friend aware that in my previous Question I referred to the fact that the women should be used in battalions at home?
§ Mr. LawI would remind my hon. and gallant Friend that units have to go abroad at very short notice sometimes.