HC Deb 09 May 1950 vol 475 cc35-6W
94. Major Beamish

asked the Secretary of State for War what constitutes a day's out of camp training for a member of the Territorial Army; and what is the comparison between 15 days' out of camp training required of non-volunteers and 120 evening training periods required of volunteers in the Territorial Army.

Mr. Strachey

Four evening training periods of one hour constitute a day's out of camp training. Thus 15 days out of camp training by non-volunteeers would be equivalent to 60 evening training periods. These would normally be performed in 3 years whereas the 120 training periods by volunteers would extend over four years.

95. Major Beamish

asked the Secretary of State for War what penalties can be imposed on men who without reasonable excuse fail to attend for training with the Territorial Army when ordered to do so.

Mr. Strachey

Any man of the Territorial Army who without reasonable excuse fails to fulfil his training obligations renders himself liable, under Section 21 of the Territorial and Reserve Forces Act, 1907, to a fine not exceeding £5, recoverable on complaint from a court of summary jurisdiction. A National Service man who is serving in the Territorial Army during his part-time service, if he fails without reasonable excuse to comply with a training notice, renders himself liable, under Section 5 (4) of the National Service Act, 1948, to a fine of £25 if he is convicted by a court of summary jurisdiction, and to a sentence of detention or imprisonment not exceeding two years if he is convicted by a court-martial. A training notice is only issuable for a period of training of not less than six days.

96. Major Beamish

asked the Secretary of State for War why W.O. Code No. 5595 does not explain what training a non-volunteer member of the Territorial Army would be required to do during his fourth year's service therein.

Mr. Strachey

A National Service man posted to the Territorial Army will normally complete his 60 days obligatory training during his first three years. In his fourth year he will only be required to carry out any uncompleted balance of such training