Vote 2. Reserve Forces, Territorial Army, Home Guard and Cadet Forces

HC Deb 15 March 1956 vol 550 cc598-9

Motion made, and Question proposed, That a sum, not exceeding £16,370,000, be granted to Her Majesty, to defray the expense of the Reserve Forces (to a number not exceeding 400,000, all ranks, including a number not exceeding 385,000 other ranks), Territorial Army (to a number not exceeding 306,000, all ranks). Home Guard (to a number not exceeding 1,900, all ranks), Cadet Forces and Malta Territorial Force, which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1957.

Mr. Emrys Hughes

I would be much obliged if the Under-Secretary would explain an item on Vote 2. I think we should have some idea of the reason we are voting this sum of money. I find that in the paragraph on "Organisation," in the Explanatory Notes, there is a brief description of the rôle of the Army Emergency Reserve on the outbreak of war. The paragraph says that it is (a) to provide units of the Mobile Defence Corps; I should like the hon. Gentleman to give us some idea of what the Mobile Defence Corps is to do.

In paragraph (b), we are told—