HC Deb 13 March 1947 vol 434 cc1697-8

Motion made, and Question proposed, That a sum, not exceeding £5,889,000, be granted to His Majesty, to defray the expense of the Reserve Forces (to a number not exceeding 71,000, all ranks, for the Royal Army Reserve), Territorial Army (to a number not exceeding 172,880, all ranks) and Cadet Forces, which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1948.

Colonel Wigg

May I ask a question? The noble Lord the Member for Horsham (Earl Winterton) got to his feet with some alacrity a few moments ago—

Earl Winterton

Whatever I said on the former Vote it is out of Order to refer to it on this Vote. If the hon. and gallant Gentleman wants to keep the Committee sitting another two or three hours, I shall be prepared to debate with him. But if he refers to what I said on the previous Vote I shall raise a point of Order.

Colonel Wigg

If I may not talk about what was said on an earlier Vote, can I refer to what was said yesterday afternoon?

The Chairman

The hon. and gallant Member would not be in Order in proceeding along that line. The matter before the Committee is that of the Reserve Forces and the Cadet Forces.

Colonel Wigg

I accept your Ruling, Major Milner. I will leave the noble Lord and ask the question I want to ask. I should like to hear from the Secretary of State whether he intends to re-establish Section A of the Army Reserve.

Lieut.-Colonel Lipton

Would the Secretary of State give us some explanation of the cut in the grants to the Cadet Forces?

Mr. Bellenger

In answer to the question of the hon. and gallant Member for Dudley (Colonel Wigg), the Reserve liability exists. With the run-down of the Regular Army, naturally, the Reserves have also run down, to a very considerable extent, and my hon. and gallant Friend knows the reason for this. After a certain period, the reserve liability for those who enlisted on normal occasions is bound to go. Nevertheless, the reserves are being reconstituted and rebuilt with the rebuilding of the Regular Army.

Colonel Wigg

The Army Reserves were limited to 6,000. Several times between the two wars, it would have been of the utmost service to this country to have had these Reserves, who could have been paid quite small sums, and I suggest that the Minister might be well advised to consider whether they should not be reconstituted.

Mr. Bellenger

I think my hon. and gallant Friend will know that there is a statutory limit to the number of Class A Reserve. I should think—and I am speaking without my brief—that it would be necessary to have legislation in order to increase the number of the Reserves.

Mr. Callaghan

There is one point which I desire to raise on sub-head B regarding the adjutants to be appointed to Territorial units, but I do not ask for a reply tonight, though it should be taken into account. Many of these excellent young men are being offered commissions and an engagement for a period of three years. If we are to get the best people, we must do a little more than that, and what I am suggesting is that they should be offered the opportunity of a permanent commission if, at the end of their three-year engagement, they turn out to be suitable in all respects. What I would like my right hon. Friend to do is to say to these men, at the outset, when they are being offered these jobs, that, if they are found suitable, they will be offered permanent commissions at the end of their engagement.

Mr. Bellenger

We could give no absolute guarantee, of course, but those who take these short service commissions are eligible to be considered for regular commissions, along with others, if found suitable.

Lieut.-Colonel Lipton

Is it possible to find out why the grant to Cadet Forcs has been cut in this Estimate?

Mr. Bellenger

I have not got the answer ready at the moment, hut, if my hon. and gallant Friend will allow me, I will write to him on the subject.

Question put, and agreed to.