HL Deb 18 May 1908 vol 188 cc1584-5
THE DUKE OF BEDFORD

I beg to ask the noble Lord, the Under-Secretary of State for War, the following questions: (1) If Militia officers belonging to Militia battalions who are not to train this year are allowed to transfer or to be attached as Militia officers to Militia battalions which are to train this year; (2) to state the number of Special Reserve recruits, engineers, artillery, and infantry of the United Kingdom enlisted up to 2nd May, 1908, who on the date of first enlistment were up to and above army standard both as regards age and physical development?

*LORD LUCAS

Has the noble Lord anything to say first as to the questions?

*THE DUKE OF BEDFORD

They do not want any explanation, if the noble Lord will give the figures asked for.

*LORD LUCAS

The answer to the first question is that, so far as we know, all militia battalions, except the twenty-three disbanded battalions, are to train this year. In the case of the battalions other than those disbanded therefore, presumably, all the officers will train with them. In the case of the others, they will be dealt with under Section 72, of the Army Order, of 23rd December, in which all the officers other than lieutenant-colonels may be brought out for training.

*THE DUKE OF BEDFORD

But have not Militia officers of disbanded battalions to train as Special Reserve officers? That is the point.

LORD LUCAS

Of course, they have to enter the Special Reserve of officers and have to carry out this year the regular Militia training.

*THE DUKE OF BEDFORD

Will the noble Lord say if they may train with the Militia, but only as Special Reserve officers?

LORD LUCAS

Yes. As regards the second question, the Return which the noble Duke asks for will involve I am sorry to say, an enormous amount of clerical labour on the Record Office, which, at the present moment is striving to deal with all these questions of permanent staff, the Territorial Army, etc., and will mean extremely hard work. I am going to appeal to the noble Duke, unless he is very anxious to have the information, which, of course, we will get if he insists——

*THE DUKE OF BEDFORD

Oh, no, I do not wish to give any extra work.

LORD LUCAS

If the noble Duke will not mind, at the present time, we shall be very much obliged, and it will relieve the pressure a great deal.