§ 24. Sir G. Jeffreysasked the Secretary of State for War why an officer, on joining the Territorial Army, is paid no uniform allowance unless there has been a break in his service of at least one year; and whether he will arrange that an officer on joining the Territorial Army receives uniform allowance, thus encouraging young officers to join the Territorial Army immediately on release after National Service.
§ Mr. StracheyOfficers who join the Territorial Army after a break in their commissioned service of less than one year are deemed to be still in possession of all the outfit they need. I can see no grounds for authorising the grant of uniform allowance in these cases.
§ Sir G. JeffreysIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the effect of that order is that a large number of officers who 706 would join the Territorial Army directly on conclusion of their National Service wait for a year, or possibly more, and sometimes reconsider joining at all?
§ Mr. StracheyIt would be very difficult to make a grant under a break of one year.