§ Sir M. DOCKRELLasked the Secretary of State for War if he will consider the possibility of reconstituting a regiment from the six famous Irish regiments, now about to be disbanded, under the title of the Royal Regiment of Ireland, that being the first title conferred upon the oldest of the six regiments, the present Royal Irish Regiment?
§ Sir R. SANDERSThe practical effect of my hon. Friend's proposal would be to raise a new regiment which would have to be recruited from Northern Ireland. This recruiting area has already to maintain such of the North Irish regiments as are to be retained, and in justice to the latter we cannot raise an additional 2113W regiment in that area. Nor should we be able to realise to the full the economies which have to be effected in the present circumstances of financial stringency. My right hon. Friend regrets, therefore, that the proposal is one which he cannot entertain much as he deplores the necessity for the disbandment of these distinguished regiments.