§ Sir S. HOAREasked the Secretary of State for War what was the establishment of the Directorate of Military Operations in 1917; what is it now; and, in the event of the establishment being greater now than in 1917, what is the reason for the Directorate having a greater staff than it had at the height of the War?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSThe staff of the Directorate of Military Operations on 1st June, 1917, was 16, and at present is 28. Little comparison can be made between the size of the staff on the two dates since, during the War, a large staff was maintained at General Headquarters, Home Forces, and on its abolition the whole work in connection with home defence, internal security, air defence, etc., was taken over by the Military Operations Directorate. Further, the Directorate is now more closely2074W concerned with the conduct of operations in the various danger areas than during the War, when these were left almost entirely to the Commanders-in-Chief concerned. There is also an abnormal amount of work at present arising from the situation in Ireland. During the period of transition the Directorate has a great deal of work in connection with the reconstruction of the Army, and it is now also engaged on special duties preparatory to the meeting of the Imperial Conference.