§ Mr. SHERWELLasked the Under-Secretary for War if he can state definitely whether the Volunteer training corps, if continued, will be recognised by the War Office; and, if so, under what conditions?
§ Mr. TENNANTAll corps which have become affiliated to the Central Association of Volunteer Training Corps and have thereby accepted the conditions framed for such corps by the Army Council are already recognised. This recognition will be extended to corps so affiliating in the future.
§ Mr. SHERWELLalso asked if it is proposed to publish any official Report of the statement made by the Secretary of State for War to the Lords Lieutenant of the country on 12th February with respect to the conditions of membership and training in Volunteer training corps?
§ Mr. TENNANTThere is no intention to publish a Report of the proceedings of this meeting.
§ Mr. SHERWELLfurther asked the Under-Secretary for War whether, in view of the uncertainty that at present exists as to the position of Volunteer training corps, he will say if it is the wish of the War Office that such corps should be disbanded, or, if continued, should be confined to men who are not of military age, or are the organisers of such corps at liberty to enrol all suitable applicants who show, to the satisfaction of the organisers, that they have a good and sufficient reason for not enlisting in the Regular or Territorial Forces?
§ Mr. TENNANTThe Army Council has granted recognition to a number of Volun-284W teer corps, and certainly has no wish for their disbandment or the discontinuance of the movement. While considering that such corps are primarily for veterans, the Council hold that there is no objection to younger men becoming members of these corps if they think they have good reason to abstain from joining the Army and undertake to enlist if specially called on to do so.