§ Sir Richard Glynasked the Secretary of State for War what was the strength of the Territorial Army Emergency Reserve at the last convenient date; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RamsdenThe strength of the Territorial Army Emergency Reserve is now 4,587. This is not unsatisfactory, bearing in mind the high standards upon which we insist, and the limited numbers which have hitherto been available to match the vacancies produced by its rank and trade structure, but I would like to see the numbers grow.
I am now ready to propose two changes which should assist recruiting and enhance the value of this reserve. Some of the best men in the T.A. quickly become N.C.O.s and are thus precluded from volunteering for the T.A.E.R. because it has limited N.C.O. vacancies. In future a T.A. corporal or lance corporal will, subject to the consent of his commanding officer, be allowed to volunteer for the T.A.E.R. if he is prepared to give up his rank on call-out. Such temporary reversion would not affect his normal T.A. rank or career.
Secondly, increased emphasis will be given to the formation of sub-units within the T.A.E.R. On call-out these will 120W be posted and will travel whenever possible together, as a sub-unit, to other units within their arm or service. On arrival they would of course be used at the discretion of the receiving unit, as reinforcements normally are.
Finally, I must emphasise yet again how indispensable is the co-operation and encouragement of employers to men who wish to join this reserve, which could be of great value to the country, for example as a reinforcement to Regular units involved in overseas emergencies.