§ 28. Lieut.-Commander Hutchisonasked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the difficulty which is being experienced in obtaining the required number of recruits for the Auxiliary Territorial Service, and having regard to the successful operation of the system of immobile units in the Women's Royal Naval Service, he will introduce a similar system in the Auxiliary Territorial Service, observing that such immobile units could easily be established in all large cities and towns where existing units of the Auxiliary Territorial Service are, more or less, permanently stationed?
§ Captain MargessonThis suggestion has been considered on several occasions and is at present being re-examined, but it presents great difficulties. There are very few Army installations suitable for the employment of units of the Auxiliary Territorial Service which are comparable 1232 with such places as dockyards where personnel of the Women's Royal Naval Service are serving. Local service conditions for Auxiliary Territorial Service were tried out early in the war and were found to be unsatisfactory from many aspects. Such conditions tend to import unfair discrimination between auxiliaries of the Auxiliary Territorial Service and to restrict volunteering for general service, for which the majority of Auxiliary Territorial Service personnel are required.
§ Lieut.-Commander HutchisonIs the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that the fact that the matter was being reconsidered would give satisfaction to the available resources of woman-power?