§ 32. Brigadier Smythasked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the present shortage and cost of paper and the necessity of staff and regimental officers having time for training themselves and their troops, he will take urgent steps to reduce the number of forms and returns for which his Department is responsible.
§ The Secretary of State for War (Mr. Strachey)This is already in hand. One hundred and fifty returns have already been cancelled.
§ Brigadier SmythDoes the right hon. Gentleman realise that this problem of forms and returns places a very great burden on the unit and that if he could relieve commanding officers a little in this respect he might lose a certain number of nuts and bolts, but the net gain in economy and efficiency would be tremendous?
§ Mr. StracheyI quite agree, and we have just appointed a Controller of Army Statistics.
§ Brigadier SmythWhile realising that it has been a good move to appoint a controller at the War Office and in the commands, which has relieved matters to a certain extent, things are by no means right and a great many people feel that if these forms increase the CO. will no longer be able to train his unit efficiently. Surely the right hon. Gentleman will bear that matter in mind?