§ Mr. Bossomasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether it is intended to make available Regular officers to assist in the training of the Home Guard?
§ Mr. SandysOn 24th March I announced the decision to appoint serving officers both as adjutants and as quartermasters in Home Guard battalions. As a further step, it has been decided to appoint serving officers from the Regular Army of the rank of major or lieut.-colonel on an approximate scale of one to every three battalions, with the express object of assisting in Home Guard training.
§ Mr. Grovesasked the Under-Secretary of State for War why Home Guard medical units cannot obtain supplies of morphia until invasion commences; and by what means morphia is to be distributed under invasion conditions?
§ Mr. SandysHome Guard medical units do not exist. Supplies of morphia, however, are included in the medical equipment already issued to those Home Guard battalions for which a regimental aid post has been authorised. Arrangements have been made for the distribution of morphia to commanders of isolated posts when invasion is imminent.
§ Mr. Grovesasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that certain local authorities, under invasion conditions, would probably not be able to evacuate Home Guard casualties; and whether Home Guard units are provided with sufficient equipment to enable them to treat their own casualties until evacuation becomes possible?
§ Mr. SandysYes, Sir. Under certain conditions, it may be impossible to evacuate casualties, either military or civil. Home Guard units are, however, provided with sufficient equipment to enable them to give first aid treatment to casualties until they can be taken over by2184W either the civil or the military medical services.
§ Mr. Grovesasked the Under-Secretary of State for War what complaints he has received about the dilatory action of local medical war committees and their refusal to hear representatives of the Home Guard when discussing Home Guard affairs and whether he proposes to take any steps towards improving the existing situation?
§ Mr. SandysVery few complaints have been received and these have been looked into. An Army Council Instruction, whose terms have been agreed with the Central Medical War Committee, will be published shortly and should remove any misunderstandings.