§ 11. Lieut.-Colonel Liptonasked the Secretary of State for War whether he will now state what bounty is payable to men who volunteer to join the Territorial Army on completion of their full-time National Service.
§ Mr. StracheyI regret that it is not yet possible for me to make a statement upon this matter.
§ Lieut.-Colonel LiptonDoes the right hon. Gentleman recognise the supreme importance of promoting and maintaining so far as possible the voluntary character of the Territorial Army, and will he, in these circumstances, do his best to ensure that these National Service volunteers are treated in exactly the same way as those who volunteer in the ordinary way, and that there is no financial difference whatsoever?
§ Mr. StracheyI certainly recognise the very great importance of this matter.
§ Brigadier HeadDoes the Secretary of State recognise that this declaration about the bounty is at least two years overdue, and that the longer he delays it, the harder it is to make the Territorial Army organisation work?
§ Mr. StracheyI would not agree that it is two years overdue, but I think that now the first arrivals from National Service are coming in to the Territorials it is a matter of urgency.
§ Brigadier HeadYes, but the recruiting period has been in the last two years. What is the reason for the delay?
§ Mr. StracheyIt is obviously not a matter that my Department can settle on its own. The other Service Departments. the Treasury and the Government as a whole, are involved.
§ Lieut.-Colonel LiptonDoes the Secretary of State realise that it is very difficult for commanding officers of Territorial units to persuade National Servicemen tt, volunteer, while doubt about this bounty exists?
§ Mr. StracheyI entirely agree that it is a matter of great urgency to make this announcement.
§ 19. Mr. Gammansasked the Secretary of State for War if, in view of the deteriorating international situation, he proposes to make any special efforts to improve voluntary recruitment for the Territorial Army.
§ Mr. StracheyIt is the policy of my Department to do everything possible to encourage voluntary recruitment for the Territorial Army. I welcome this opportunity to stress again the very great need of the Territorial Army for the trained leaders of the late war, who are required to continue the training of the National Servicemen now joining the Territorial Army in considerable numbers.
§ Mr. GammansDoes the right hon. Gentleman's answer mean that the Government, in spite of the fact that voluntary recruitment has been very largely a failure, are only going to make the appeal which the right hon. Gentleman has made? Does not the Government realise that there is a deteriorating world situation?
§ Mr. StracheyI could not agree that voluntary recruitment to the Territorial Army has been a failure.
§ Mr. GammansVery largely.
§ Mr. StracheyI could not agree. I emphasise that what is specially necessary for the Territorial Army is not so much large numbers, because they are being found by the men coming out of National Service, as trained leaders, officers and N.C.O.s, who can help us to keep up and improve the training of the National Service men.
§ Brigadier MedlicottHas the right hon. Gentleman considered, as another part of the same problem, the possibility of reforming the Home Guard?
§ Mr. StracheyThat is quite another question.
§ Lieut.-Colonel LiptonIs my right hon. Friend aware that recruiting would be considerably assisted if he settled this bounty question within the next few days?
§ Mr. StracheyThat is voluntary recruiting from ex-National Service men.
§ Major BeamishDoes not the right hon. Gentleman agree that there is a very great shortage of trained instructors for National Service men in the Territorial Army, and does he not think that the complacency of his last answer ill becomes the present deterioration in the world situation?
§ Mr. StracheyI cannot agree that my answer was complacent. I repeat that it would be very unfair to the Territorial Army, and to all those connected with it, to say that voluntary recruiting has been a failure since the war.
§ Mr. LowWhilst it may be right to say that voluntary recruitment has not been a failure, surely the right hon. Gentleman must be aware that it is totally inadequate at present? Will he look into this matter personally, to see whether the equipment and conditions of service are really satisfactory to produce the right answer?
§ Mr. StracheyWe regard voluntary recruitment to the Territorial Army, especially in the category I mentioned, as a matter of the greatest importance.
§ Mr. Emrys HughesIs the rate of voluntary recruitment going up or down?
§ Mr. StracheyThat is another question.
§ Mr. McKibbinIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the magnificent review in Northern Ireland of the troops of the Territorial Army and Auxiliary Forces is proof that voluntary recruiting is not a failure in Northern Ireland?
§ Major BeamishIn view of the very great shortage of trained instructors in the Territorial Army, and the Minister's replies today, I beg to give notice that I hope to raise this matter on the Adjournment.