§ 10. Mr. A. R. W. Lowasked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that National Service men serving at home or in Europe who volunteer to join the Regular Army are in many cases immediately posted away from the unit in which they hoped to serve as Regulars; and if, in view of the effects which this practice must have in discouraging Regular recruiting, he will cause it to cease.
§ The Secretary of State for War (Mr. Shinwell)It is unfortunately not always possible to ensure that National Service men who volunteer as Regulars shall remain in the unit of their choice. This is due to the necessity of making the best use of our limited Regular manpower and particularly to the need for maintaining Regular strengths in those theatres to which it is uneconomical to post National Service men. With these qualifications, every effort is made to meet the wishes of the National Service man on first becoming a Regular.
§ Mr. LowDoes not the right hon. Gentleman agree that the limiting factor in the Army's growing efficiency is the number of Regular soldiers who have volunteered, and would it not be wise to change the rule so that men who volunteer should be allowed to stay in the units in which they decide to volunteer?
§ Mr. ShinwellSubject to what I have already said—the qualification to which I have referred—the need for recruits in certain theatres is so great that we simply cannot afford to change the rule at present.