§ Mr. R. Beaumontasked the Secretary of State for War whether mess uniform is included in the equipment with which Territorial officers must supply themselves; whether it is covered by the grant made to officers for the purchase of equipment; whether any instructions are issued for the guidance of Territorial units with regard to the provision of mess uniform; and, if not, whether he will take steps to impress upon them the undesirability of placing upon officers the expense entailed in the provision of this particular and unnecessary item of uniform?
1569W
Mr. Hore-Beiisha:The answer to the first two parts of the question is "No, Sir." Paragraph 529, Territorial Army Regulations, gives directions as to the patterns of mess dress which may be worn by those Territorial Army officers who have it, and states clearly that the provision of such uniform is optional.