§ 41. Major Legge-Bourkeasked the Secretary of State for War whether it is intended to fix any target number or percentage of recruits to be obtained from the Civil Service for the T.A.
§ Mr. BellengerNo, Sir. It is not proposed to fix a target or quota for any particular profession or occupation. Every encouragement will be given to civil servants to join the Territorial Army, subject to the need to ensure the retention of sufficient trained officials to maintain essential services in war-time.
§ 42. Major Legge-Bourkeasked the Secretary of State for War what proportion of the total number of the 20,000 recruits for the T.A. up to the end of June were obtained from the Civil Service.
§ Mr. BellengerI regret that this information is not readily available.
§ Major Legge-BourkeIn view of this answer and the right hon. Gentleman's answer to the previous Question, will he bear in mind that many organisations are having considerable difficulty in getting under way after the war, and will he, therefore, do everything he can to encourage civil servants to join the Territorial Army, as every extra man from the Civil Service will ease the situation very considerably?
§ Mr. BellengerCertainly, but within the limits of the answer I gave to the hon. and gallant Gentleman's first Question.