§ Mr. LAMBERTasked the Minister of Agriculture the wheat acreage, the estimated production, the estimated number of weeks of such home supplies of flour for bread, and the average price paid to the wheat producer, for each of the last six cereal years?
§ Mr. W. S. MORRISONThe information required is as follows:
proper state of repair various drill halls under their supervision: and how much would be required for the erection of new drill halls in places where there has recently been a considerable increase in the population?
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Mr. COOPERIt is the responsibility of Territorial Army Associations to maintain the drill halls under their supervision in a proper state of repair and for this purpose an annual grant is made to them in respect of each drill hall. I am satisfied that the associations are fulfilling their obligations. County Associations appreciate the desirability of erecting drill halls in areas where the population has increased and my hon. and gallant Friend may rest assured that when the expansion of the Anti-Aircraft Defences has been completed there will be few such areas without a Territorial Army Headquarters.
§ Sir R. GLYNasked the Secretary of State for War whether certain requisites for the Territorial Army could be supplied by the Royal Army Ordnance Corps under special arrangements with the County Territorial Associations: and what is the reason why representations on this matter from various Territorial Associations have never received a favourable reply?
Mr. COOPERI am not clear to which requisites my hon. and gallant Friend refers. County Territorial Associations are required to purchase articles of clothing and accoutrements from the Royal Army Ordnance Corps. It is, however, generally undesirable on grounds of policy and administration that associations should rely on the Royal Army Ordnance Corps for purchases of articles which need not be of Army pattern and are obtainable elsewhere.
§ Sir R. GLYNasked the Secretary of State for War what would be the cost of the issue of walking-out dress to all units of the Territorial Army; whether he is aware that the men have repeatedly made it clear through the proper channels that such a uniform would be very acceptable, and that, if necessary, they would be willing to contribute towards the cost; and whether he is now in a position to make a statement?
Mr. COOPERAs has already been announced elsewhere, I hope that all Territorial Army soldiers taking part in the ceremony of His Majesty's Coronation in London will be supplied with the blue uniform at public expense. To make a further issue of the uniform, in addition to the existing scale of service dress, to all other members of the Territorial Army246W would cost about £350,000 initially, with a considerable annual expenditure thereafter for upkeep. I am not at present able to make any further statement.