§ Mr. Lees-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is satisfied that the county territorial associations are sufficiently alive to their recruiting responsibilities; and if he approves of their accumulating their funds, as appears from Command Paper 5275, instead of spending them prudently for the benefit of their units?
Mr. CooperI am satisfied that associations are alive to their recruiting responsibilities, and they are entitled to great credit for the improved recruiting of the last 12 months. As regards the second part of the question, the grants given to associations are, as the hon. Member suggests, intended to be spent on the administration and for the general benefit of units, but the accumulation of reasonable reserves is a measure of prudence not inconsistent with this intention and has justified itself during the recent years when economy was a paramount consideration.