§ Sir ASHTON LISTERasked the Secretary of State for War when he intends to demobilise the present permanent staffs attached to Volunteer units throughout the country; will he state the present cost of maintaining the same; and is he aware that since the Armistice these Volunteer battalions have ceased to exist as a military force, all compulsory drills have been discontinued, and the men discharged and thanked for their services?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe question of the demobilisation of the permanent staffs of the Volunteer Force depends on the much larger question of the future of the force, regarding which I cannot make any statement at present. The cost of maintaining these permanent staffs (including adjutants) is approximately £300,000 a year. It should be remembered that in a large number of cases the staffs are doing very useful work in assisting the temporary commanding officers of Territorial Force units, which at present have no permanent staffs, to reconstruct the Territorial Force. Compulsory drills have been discontinued, but the only men discharged are those who for various reasons,e.g., physical disability, did not join Sections "A," "B," or "C." The men in these sections signed agreement to serve for the duration of the War, and have not been discharged.