HL Deb 24 June 1907 vol 176 cc847-8
THE EARL OF WEMYSS

My Lords, I rise to ask the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the men composing the Militia Force who enlisted for home service, and who can now volunteer for service over-sea, will be free to leave the Militia if not disposed to accept compulsory foreign service as now imposed upon them by Mr. Haldane's Army Bill; whether by this change in the conditions of Militia service the constitutional powers of compulsion for home defence can practically no longer be applied to a force thus made liable to foreign service; and whether, consequently, the Government propose to repeal the existing Militia Ballot Act.

Your Lordships are no doubt aware that in another place, by an arrangement between the two Front Benches, the Militia has been taken out of the Territorial Force, and is no longer coupled with the Volunteers and Yeomanry. But, although the name of the Militia remains, its constitution has been completely altered. The Militia is now to be a reserve for the Army. I need not tell your Lordships that it is a complete revolution to place the Militia in this position, and to put it at the beck of the Government of the day to be sent anywhere at any time for foreign service. It seems to me that the points raised in my Question will naturally arise out of this greatly changed state of things, and I beg to put the Question.

THE UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR(The Earl of PORTSMOUTH)s

My Lords, my noble friend has put to me three Questions. In regard to Question No. 1, any individual of the present Militia who is unable or unwilling to accept service under the new conditions, can either transfer to the Territorial Army, or complete the period of his present engagement. In the latter case, he would probably not be called out for training. As regards the second Question, the present Militia, in so far as it accepts liability for foreign service under Part III. of the Bill which we propose to discuss on Second Reading to-morrow, ceases to be a part of the Home Defence Army, and to that extent compulsion for home defence becomes impracticable. My noble friend's third Question has reference to his particular pet lamb, the Militia Ballot. We do not propose at present to take any steps to repeal the existing Militia Ballot Act.

House adjourned at twenty-five minutes past Seven o'clock, till To-morrow, half-past Ten o'clock.