§ 29. Mr. Bossomasked the Secretary of State for War if he will give an assurance that arms and ammunition for the Home Guard will be ready for the members when enrolled.
§ Mr. StracheyThe eventual strength of the Home Guard has not yet been decided. It is not, therefore, possible at this stage to say what proportion of the full requirement of equipment can be made available on the outbreak of war. Our stocks of rifles and small arms ammunition are substantial.
§ Mr. BossomIn view of the announcement that the Home Guard is not to be enrolled until after trouble has developed, is not this an ambiguous way of handling a very serious situation? Cannot the right hon. Gentleman give us some more information that will be of use to us?
§ Mr. StracheyI cannot give the hon. Member exact information of our stocks of rifles and small arms ammunition.
§ Mr. EdenCould not the right hon. Gentleman give this assurance? We all know, without betraying any figures, that there were large stocks of rifles at the end of the war, and surely there must be enough to cover the enlistment of the Home Guard?
§ Mr. StracheyIt depends on the size of the enlistment. If we had the whole manpower of this Island in the Home Guard or the Regular Forces—
§ Mr. StracheyI do not think we should. I think it highly improbable. Therefore, until the size of the Home Guard is determined, I could not give such an assurance.
§ Mr. EdenWould it not be more comforting to the nation if the Government said, first, what will be the size of the Home Guard, and, secondly, how they will arm them?
§ Mr. StracheyI really cannot accept the right hon. Gentleman's imputation at all. The size of the Home Guard will depend on circumstances which develop at the time and on the size of the Regular and Territorial Forces. Our stocks of rifles and small arms ammunition are very substantial indeed.