HC Deb 06 June 1944 vol 400 cc1183-4
7. Mr. Francis Watt

asked the Secretary of State for War, whether he is satisfied that adequate infantry training is being given to the officers who are presently being transferred from the R.A.S.C. to infantry units.

9 and 10. Mr. Hugh Lawson

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) If he is aware that there is great dissatisfaction at a unit, of which he has been informed, among officers who are being transferred against their will to the infantry and what steps he proposes to take to remove this dissatisfaction;

(2) why officers of a corps of which he has been informed, are being transferred to the infantry against their will; and if any new commissions are being granted in this corps.

Sir J. Grigg

Certain corps and arms of the Service have a surplus of officers at the present time. The infantry is short of officers. The surplus in the former is therefore being transferred to make good the deficiency in the latter. I regret the necessity for doing this, but I can assure my hon. Friends that the necessity is a real one. Instructions were issued that the position should be carefully explained to the officers concerned. I fear that in some cases this instruction was not fully carried out. A senior military officer has, however, visited the unit where most of these officers are now being trained and has interviewed those officers who wished to discuss their cases. Each officer transferred is sent to a course for training as an infantry officer. The length of the course varies according to circumstances. As time goes on, it will, of course, be necessary to grant a limited number of new commissions in the arms and corps which now have a surplus, in order to make good future wastage. The men who will be given those commissions are not available now, and cannot, therefore, be used to make good the present shortage in the infantry.

Mr. Watt

While appreciating the necessity for the transfer may I ask my right hon. Friend whether he is aware that some of these officers are being posted to infantry units after only two months' training; and will he bear in mind that there is considerable apprehension that these men will not be properly trained for the job?

Sir J. Grigg

If the hon. Member will give instances of people who are being posted after only two months' training I will have inquiries made, but I cannot believe that they are people who have not had previous infantry training. The length of the course varies in accordance with their fitness for the new arms.

Mr. H. Lawson

Are new commissions being granted from the O.C.T.U.s into the corps mentioned?

Sir J. Grigg

I have answered that by saying that as time goes on it will be necessary to grant a limited number of new commissions in order to replace future wastage. But the men to be given these commissions are not available now and cannot therefore be used to make good the present shortage in the infantry.

Mr. Lawson

Do I take it that no new commissions are being granted froth O.C.T.U.s at the present time?

Sir J. Grigg

I would not like to give a categorical answer, but I would say very few, if any. My answer is concerned with the future, rather than with the present.