§ Major BOYD-CARPENTERasked the Secretary of State for War what is the 907W present strength of the rank and file of the Territorial Force; how many officers on full pay have been appointed to the command and staff of Territorial divisions and mounted brigades; what duties these officers are performing; and whether, in view of the fact that a promise was given that the terms of service and obligations of this new Territorial Force should be notified by 1st November, he can now state what these are?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLUnder the Military Service Acts, soldiers of the Territorial Force have been accounted for as belonging to the general strength of the Army, and not as constituting a separate force, and in Territorial Force units both Regular and Territorial Force soldiers have been and still are serving side by side. To furnish the figures asked for in the first part of the question would consequently involve much time, labour and expense, as it would entail examination of all soldiers' documents in all record offices. Fourteen divisional commanders have been appointed; no brigade commanders. The duties which the divisional commanders are performing were given on Monday last in reply to a question asked by the hon. and gallant Member for Abingdon, and I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to that reply. With regard to the last part of the question, it was hoped that recruiting for the reconstituted Territorial Force would begin on the 1st November, but the financial situation has necessitated a most careful revision of our commitments and consequently of the composition of the after-war Army, and I regret that as a result the reconstitution of the Territorial Force has been unavoidably delayed