§ 8. Brigadier Petoasked the Secretary of State for War why officers commanding Territorial Army units were not informed of the proposed reorganisation of
§ Mr. StracheyNo, Sir. I think my hon. Friend had better wait and look at the table of figures.
Air-Commodore HarveyWill the right hon. Gentleman also say how well the Brigade of Guards fought in the war?
§ Following is the answer:
§ their units until the day after the detailed plan had appeared in the Press; and whether he is aware that such treatment is bound to undermine the confidence of those who are giving voluntary service.
§ Mr. StracheyWith the exceptions to which I am about to refer, officers commanding Territorial Army units were informed of the proposed reorganisation of their units before the plan appeared in the Press. The chief trouble was in one command where, as a result of a misunderstanding of verbal instructions, certain officers received the information through the Press just before the official notification. I regret that this should have occurred, and I take this opportunity again to express my sympathy with units which are being amalgamated, and to record my appreciation of the patriotic and broad-minded way in which the scheme as a whole has been received by the officers and men concerned.
§ Brigadier PetoWill the right hon. Gentleman not agree that it was extremely unfortunate, and that a verbal order of that sort was liable to be misinterpreted; and will he say whose order it was—whether it was from the War Office, his own Department, or from an Army Command?
§ Mr. StracheyThe arrangement was made at a conference of the public relations officers of the commands concerned.
§ Brigadier PetoWhat a way to give an order!
§ Mr. StracheyWell, would not the hon. and gallant Gentleman agree that the giving out of information first to the Press and to other officers concerned was a matter for these officers?
§ Brigadier PetoNo, Sir.
§ Mr. StracheyA conference was held, and in the case of one command it was mistimed by a few hours.
§ Mr. A. R. W. LowDoes not the right hon. Gentleman realise that when dealing with Territorial Army units in this way he must have much more regard to local feeling than has been had in this case; and is it not a fact that no commanding officer, no honorary colonel, no colonel commandant, and I believe no brigadier commanding a brigade or group, was consulted before this reorganisation plan was made, and is it not therefore likely that local considerations have been wholly swept aside?
§ Mr. SpeakerThat is very wide of this Question.
§ Sir Ralph GlynIs the Secretary of State going to publish a final list of these alterations? There is nothing about them in the Vote Office. Is it his intention to publish a White Paper?
§ Mr. StracheyThe scheme put forward is in the Library of the House, but that applies to the question just raised by the hon. Member for Blackpool, North (Mr. Low). This is, after all, not a final scheme; the last modifications in it have not been made; modifications are being made, in consultation with the officers concerned, at this very moment, and we cannot put out a final list until finality has been reached in all these cases.
§ Brigadier PetoIn view of the unsatisfactory reply, I give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment at the earliest opportunity.