§ 30. Mr. Lipsonasked the Secretary of State for War whether it is his intention to replace men in the Royal Army Pay Corps by women so far as it is practicable to do so?
§ Mr. LawIt is the policy of my Department to replace fit men in the Royal Army Pay Corps by men of a lower medical category or members of the Auxiliary Territorial Service wherever possible. But it is essential to retain a sufficient though very small nucleus of fully-trained staff in order to maintain the pay services of the Army.
§ Mr. ThorneIf women are engaged, how are they graded for payment?
§ 31. Mr. Lipsonasked the Secretary of State for War whether any military training is provided for men serving in the Royal Army Pay Corps?
§ Mr. LawRecruits in the Royal Army Pay Corps are not sent to training units but receive instruction in the bare essentials of military training at Army Pay Offices, to which they are posted direct.
§ Mr. LipsonIs my hon. Friend sure that that always takes place, as my information is that some of these men get no military training at all?
§ Mr. LawThey get the very bare minimum of military training in order to inculcate a sense of discipline.
Colonel Arthur EvansIn view of modern conditions which make troops on lines of communication and at bases liable to surprise attacks from parachute troops, and in view of the embarrassment caused to the Commander-in-Chief during retreat of a large number of men who have received no training whatever to protect themselves or others, will my hon. Friend see to it that troops despatched abroad in departmental organisations receive an adequate amount of training before they go?