§ 2.35 p.m.
§ LORD OGMOREMy Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are taking steps to bring to the notice of employers the importance of members of the Territorial Army being given leave to attend annual training this summer on full pay in addition to their annual holiday.]
EARL ST. ALDWYNMy Lords, the normal means of approach to employers which has been found to be successful, and which will continue this year, is through the county Territorial associations. Their work goes on constantly to secure the interests and good will of firms in their area, and an employers' representative sits on every local Territorial Army committee. The success can be measured by last year's remarkable increase of some 30 per cent. in the volunteer strength of the Territorial Army. This could not have been achieved without the co-operation of employers. I am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Ogmore, for the opportunity to express again the importance which is attached to this subject by Her Majesty's Government. We receive a great deal of help already and we trust that as many more employers as can possibly do so will encourage members of their staff to join the Reserve Army and attend annual camp.
§ LORD OGMOREMy Lords, I am grateful to the noble Earl for the terms of his Answer, but if there are any really hard cases—and there is one to my 382 personal knowledge—would he and the appropriate Department be prepared to look into it with a view, if necessary, to bringing pressure to bear on the particular firm concerned?
EARL ST. ALDWYNMy Lords, it is not really a question of bringing pressure to bear on an individual firm, for there is not really any pressure that we can bring to bear. We can only try to persuade, and if the noble Lord, Lord Ogmore, cares to let me have details of the case known to him, I will certainly look into it.