HC Deb 12 February 1957 vol 564 cc1054-5
12. Air Commodore Harvey

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will make a statement on the future of the Territorial Army and Air Force Associations.

Mr. Hare

As my hon. and gallant Friend no doubt remembers, the Committee on the Administration of the Territorial Army, whose report, Cmd. 9523, was presented in 1955, said that Territorial and Auxiliary Forces Associations played a valuable part in administering the Territorial Army and should continue. The Army Council accepted this recommendation, and nothing has since happened to change the position.

Air Commodore Harvey

Will my right hon. Friend say, as the Royal Auxiliary Air Force squadrons are being disbanded, what part the associations will play in administering units which are not there? Also will he bear in mind that there is a great feeling in this country that these Territorial Air Force associations ought to be kept in being to some extent in order to make full use of the voluntary movement which is available, and which may not want to volunteer for the Army?

Mr. Hare

Yes, Sir, I have great sympathy with what my hon. and gallant Friend says, but that question ought to be addressed to the Secretary of State for Air. So far as the Army is concerned, we shall continue to make use of these territorial associations, and if members of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force choose to swell the numbers of the Territorial Army, we shall be only too glad to have them.

Mr. Beswick

Does not the Secretary of State for War realise the contradiction between the Answer which he has given and his Answer to the previous Question? On the one hand, he says that we are having to conscript men because we cannot get enough Regulars, and on the other hand we are discouraging the voluntary associations which are available in this country?

Mr. Hare

I assure the hon. Gentleman that is not what I have said. I do not want in any way to discourage volunteers. I want as many volunteers as possible.