§ LORD MANCROFTMy Lords, I beg leave to ask His Majesty's Government the question standing in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The question was as follows:
§ To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have any further statement to make about the strength of the Territorial Army.]
§ THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR COLONIAL AFFAIRS (THE EARL OF LISTOWEL)My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord for giving me this opportunity of explaining that the figures of 42,000 male and 6,250 female officers and other ranks, which I quoted in the course of the debate on April 14, represented not the strength of the Territorial Army at the end of February but the approximate gross total of recruits obtained up to that date. The actual strength of the Territorial Army at the end of February as reported by units, allowing for rejection of recruits after initial acceptance and wastage alter final approval by death, discharge or enlistment into the Active Army, was approximately 37,000 male and 5,000 female officers and other ranks.
§ LORD MANCROFTWhile thanking the noble Earl for his answer, which clears up the slight misunderstanding which had arisen, may I ask whether he will consider publishing at regular intervals the recruiting figures for the Territorial Army?
§ THE EARL OF LISTOWELI will certainly direct the attention of my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for War to the noble Lord's suggestion.