§ 1. Dame Irene Wardasked the Secretary of State for War how many notifications of commissions in the Home Guard have been issued since this organisation was disbanded.
§ The Secretary of State for War (Mr. Antony Head)The Home Guard has not been disbanded, but is on a reserve basis with a small active cadre in each battalion. Since the reorganisation was completed on 1st March 101 commissions in the Home Guard have been granted to fill vacancies in the active cadre.
§ Dame Irene WardIn view of his Answer to this Question, will my right hon. Friend make it perfectly plain to the country as a whole, as one of my most prominent constituents, a very loyal member of the Home Guard, thinks that the War Office is idiotic and wonders how many people were sitting dispatching commissions after the main duties of the Home Guard had ceased? It seems a most tremendous waste of money.
§ Mr. HeadNo, I can assure the hon. Lady that she is wrong about that. We have kept the Home Guard on a reserve basis so that it can be mobilised quickly. To do that we have to have a small active cadre in each battalion.