§ Mr. McENTEEasked the Home Secretary how many prison officers of the superior and subordinate ranks have been refused permission to engage or re-engage for service in the Territorial Army; if he is aware that some of the officers are willing to sacrifice their annual holidays for their yearly training as they have done 46W previously; does the refusal to engage or re-engage apply to officers who are willing to sacrifice holidays for their annual training; and whether the Regulations apply to officers in, or applicants for, the Royal Fleet Reserve?
§ Mr. LLOYDSince June, 1934, four subordinate officers have been refused permission to engage or re-engage in the Territorial Army. As has already been explained in reply to previous questions, it is not on account of the liability to annual training that it has been necessary to limit the number of prison officers with service obligations. At the present time so high a percentage of the prison staffs are reservists who are liable to recall to the colours in the event of a national emergency, that it is impracticable to allow more officers to undertake obligations which might result in their withdrawal for military duty at a time when they would be urgently needed in the prison service. Similar considerations apply to the Royal Fleet Reserve, but as a special concession 11 officers who would otherwise have suffered a serious financial loss were allowed to re-engage in 1934.