§ 5.27 p.m.
LORD MOYNIHANMy Lords, I beg to ask the question standing in my name on the Order Paper—namely: To ask His Majesty's Government for how long it is intended that the newly appointed Director of the Territorial Army, Major-General Herbert, is to hold this appointment.
LORD PAKENHAMMy Lords, the appointment of the present Director of the Territorial Army and Cadets is for two years, which may, subject to review, be extended for a third year, the exigencies of the Service permitting. This is the same tenure as was given to the three preceding Directors but, for reasons which. I shall explain, it was not found possible for them to complete their tenures. On the sudden illness of Lieutenant-General Sir Brian Horrocks, Lieutenant-General Sir Charles Keightley (then Military Secretary) was selected as G.O.C.-in-C., B.A.O.R., and the then Director of the Territorial Army and Cadets, Major-General (now Lieutenant-General) Sir Robert Mansergh, was appointed to the post of Military Secretary. This was in April, 1948. Then, on the unexpected retirement through ill-health of Major-General Lyne, the Commander-elect for British Troops in Egypt, Major-General G. W. E. J. Erskine 500 (Major-General Mansergh's successor as Director of the Territorial Army and Cadets) was selected for promotion and appointment as Commander for British Troops in Egypt.
Thus it will be seen that the last two Directors of the Territorial Army and Cadets will not have remained in the appointment for the full term, owing to their being needed to fill other appointments which fell vacant as a result of illness. The tenure of the appointment of D.T.A. and C. of two years, subject to review for a third year, is the normal tenure given to General Officers and Commanders on appointment, but it must also be subject to the exigencies of the Service. Although, for this reason, no absolute assurance can be given, my right honourable friend hopes that it will be possible for Major-General Herbert, who is to take up the appointment shortly, to remain in it for the full period.
§ 5.30 p.m.
§ VISCOUNT BRIDGEMANMy Lords, I think the noble Lord, Lord Moynihan, has done well to bring forward this question. Whilst I do not question any of the facts which the noble Lord opposite has stated (which I know to be correct), I feel that while they are reasons they are not necessarily excuses. This frequent change of Directors of the Territorial Army—four Directors have come and gone since 1944, which was when I handed over the appointment—has caused a great deal of bad working in the Territorial Army Directorate, and it has caused a very definite feeling in Territorial Army circles that when the Director is constantly changed, the Territorial Army cannot be as important as it is made out to be. I will make no comment upon that, but I know that is the feeling in a number of circles.
I must keep up what I think is our record this afternoon by making a constructive suggestion. My constructive suggestion on this occasion is this: the War Office should go back to the practice which held from 1908 until 1939—except for the 1914–18 War—of having a Lieutenant-General. Under those conditions, the noble Lord opposite will find—if he does not already know—that almost all the Directors of the Territorial Army ran for their full four years. We could then avoid this unpleasant choice 501 of doing wrong by the Territorial Army or doing wrong by the individual. I hope the noble Lord will convey that suggestion, which is meant constructively, to his right honourable friend.
LORD PAKENHAMMy Lords, with the leave of the House, perhaps I may be permitted to say that I will most certainly convey that constructive suggestion to my right honourable friend.