TERRITORIAL ARMY TRAINING. (Hansard, 10 February 1931)

THE EARL OF ONSLOW
My Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name.

§ THE UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (LORD MARLEY)
My Lords, the policy adopted in 1930 of attaching officers and other ranks of the Regular Army to units of the Territorial Army to assist in training was very successful. I believe that the assistance given was much appreciated by the Territorial Army, and that the attachments were also of interest and value to the officers and other ranks of the Regular Army concerned. It is proposed, therefore, in principle, to follow the policy in 1931, but the extent to which arrangements can be carried out depends not only on the training requirements of the Regular Army but also on financial considerations which are being dealt with in connection with next year's Army Estimates.

§ LORD TEMPLEMORE
My Lords, I am very glad that, my noble friend has 913 asked this Question, because it gives me the opportunity of saying how very much I think the Territorial Army benefited by this scheme of liaison, and to say how pleased I am to hear from the noble Lord that the experiment is to be repeated this year. I have not yet had the fortune to see the annual report upon the training of last year. I have no doubt that the Chief of the Imperial General Staff in that report states his view on this training with his usual cogency, and no doubt sums up the whole benefit. I only want to say now how grateful we of the Territorial Army are to the Regular officers and men for the trouble they took to help us in our training.
There is only one small point which should like to mention to the under-Secretary which rather spoilt the effect to a certain degree, and it was this. I think it was during the second or third week of August—anyhow it was after most of the divisions had done their training—an order was issued from the War Office to the effect that Regular officers were forbidden to use the messes of the Territorial Army but were to make their own arrangements for their messes, so that they did not become entitled to the 5s. a day messing allowance to which they would have been entitled had they joined the Territorial mess. I think I know what happened. Somebody in the War Office—I suppose in the Finance Branch—had a brain wave and thought there was 914 a chance of saving a little money Well, I worked it out as regards the brigade in which I am chiefly interested and I think there was a saving of £35. I do not think there could be a saving of more than £150 altogether. Of course had the order been in force during the whole of the training the saving would have been considerably more. It would have been, I suppose, about £1,500 for the Infantry alone.
One is very reluctant to criticise in these days any attempt to save public money, and I do not like doing it, but I really doubt whether in this ease it was worth while. I think the officers of the brigades affected did lose a certain amount of benefit through not being able to associate with the officers of the Regular Army except during working hours, and—I know that in saying this I shall have the sympathy of the noble Lord, the Under-Secretary for War, because he like myself left the Service with comparatively junior rank—a lot of good is done after hours in talking things over and getting to know one another in the atmosphere of the mess. I do not expect the noble Lord to give me any answer now. I have not given him notice, and he is not allowed to speak again. I did think, however, that this point was one which I ought to mention, and I should he glad if ho would look into the matter—as I am sure he will—with a view to seeing if it is possible for some other arrangement to be made.