HC Deb 19 November 1946 vol 430 cc688-92

The following Question stood upon the Order Paper:

139. Mr. C. S. TAYLOR,—To ask the Secretary of State for War whether he will now make a statement on the future of the Territorial Army.

At the end of Questions—

The Secretary of State for War (Mr. Bellenger)

With the permission of the House I would like to answer Question 139. The hon. Member will appreciate that I cannot now make a complete and final statement about the reconstitution of the Territorial Army. I do, however welcome this opportunity to add to what has been said on the subject in the past.

The Territorial Army will be reconstituted on 1st January. It will have a triple role. Should there be another war the most immediate threat at the beginning will be from the air. Provision of A. A. Artillery of some kind will be essential. Our Regular Army is too small to undertake this task and this vital commitment will, therefore, fall largely on the Territorial Army. In the second place the Territorial Army will provide units needed by the Regular Army to convert this force into a properly balanced force ready for battle. Thirdly, the Territorial Army will provide a second line to the Regular Army and a basis on which our armies will expand in a war. My hon. Friends will realise that in order to carry out this role the Territorial Army will have to contain not only infantry divisions, but armoured formations, an airborne division and the necessary supporting corps and Army troops.

I hope that all formation commanders will be appointed by 1st January, and the majority of unit commanders by 1st February next year. A permanent staff will be provided on a larger scale than before the war, but even so permanent staff should not exceed 2 per cent. of the whole unit establishment. It is essential that this machine should be in place and working before recruits are taken on in any numbers. It is unlikely, therefore, that it will be possible to open general recruiting before 1st April next year, and I trust that keen volunteers will come forward in large numbers. We depend on them to build the framework of the Territorial Army. Eventually, as a result of compulsory service, the Territorial Army will in addition contain a large compulsory element. These men will not, however, begin to reach Territorial Army units until late in the summer of 1950. In the interval the necessary accommodation will have to be provided and systems of training suitable both for the voluntary element and the compulsory element will have to be worked out.

It is intended that a large part of the administration of the Territorial Army shall continue to be entrusted to county associations who in the past have done such magnificent work in this field. Their duties will be complex and exacting and it has, therefore, been decided that all associations shall include representatives of all types of local government bodies, of trade unions, of employers' associations and of local education authorities, with due limits on the numbers of each. Certain minor changes in the field of selection and tenure of office of military members will be made, and room will be found for pre-service training organisations. There will in future be no restrictions as to rank or sex for appointment to membership.

I realise that what I have said will give hon. Members only a bare outline. This is not, however, an opportunity in which to go into detail and indeed a number of important points of detail have yet to be settled. I appreciate and value the interest the House takes in the Territorial Army and I can assure hon. Members that I will take every opportunity of keeping them informed of the progress which is made.

Mr. Eden

While we fully understand the right hon. Gentleman's difficulty in telling us more than he has up to date, because, as he said himself, it is important that the House, which is interested in this matter, should have full information, will he consider, when he is next in a position to make a statement, laying a White Paper at the same time, showing how much information is available up to that date, and perhaps the House could consider through the usual channels whether they require a Debate?

Mr. Bellenger

I am not in the position, as the House well knows, to give consideration to that point.

Mr. H. Hynd

Will the Secretary of State say from where he is going to appoint unit commanders and other officers who are going to be appointed before general recruiting starts?

Mr. Bellenger

From the best material we can get and mainly from those who served in the war just finished.

Colonel J. R. H. Hutchison

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman to bear in mind the possibility of allowing the unit which can fill its ranks from vountary people to do so and not impose upon it compulsory methods of recruitment?

Mr. Bellenger

I will consider that point but I am not in a position to give a definite answer at the moment.

Mr. C. S. Taylor

As this is obviously an important question and one from which we cannot get all the information by Question and answer, would it not be possible to have a debate on this subject?

Mr. Bellenger

The House will know, and the hon. Gentleman with his wide experience of this House knows very well, that that is a question for the Leader of the House.

Air-Commodore Harvey

To assist the recruiting campaign, will the Secretary of State make representations to see that volunteers get their annual leave in addition to the periods spent at camp?

Mr. Bellenger

I presume the hon. and gallant Member is referring to their week's holidays. That is not a question for me to answer.

Mr. Eden

As the Secretary of State has mentioned in his statement, a number of officers will be required as Regular officers. As I understand it, heavy commitments will be made on the Brigade of Guards for that purpose and, therefore, will the hon. Gentleman reconsider his decision about reducing the battalions of the Brigade of Guards?

Mr. Bellenger

My statement was only concerned with the Territorial Army. That is entirely a different question and that matter is under consideration now.

Viscount Hinchingbrooke

Will any degree of priority be given to the building of Territorial Army drill halls in those cases where building operations were suspended at the beginning of the war?

Mr. Bellenger

I should like to give some priority naturally, but I am afraid the housing demands of the civil population have got a much higher priority.