Skip to main content

British Army

Volume 47: debated on Wednesday 29 January 1913

The text on this page has been created from Hansard archive content, it may contain typographical errors.

Horse And Field Artillehy

18.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is now in a position to say how many cadres of Horse and Field Artillery are to be abolished, and how many batteries of either are to be absorbed?

The SECRETARY of STATE for WAR (Colonel Seely) : I have nothing at present to add to the replies which I have already given to the hon. and gallant Gentleman on this subject.

Having regard to the fact that it is extremely difficult to form a cadre once it has been abolished, will the right hon. Gentleman be good enough to guarantee that this House shall have an opportunity to discuss the matter before Parliament rises?

I do not think it reasonable to suggest that the rearrangement of the Artillery rendered necessary by the return of the Artillery from South Africa, should be fully discussed here before the whole of the rearrangements are yet completed. I will give the fullest information on the point, and the hon. and gallant Gentleman may be assured that no steps will be taken which will in any way weaken the Artillery. The steps taken will be with a view to increasing the striking force.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not consider that to abolish the cadres is to decrease the efficiency of the Artillery?

Cavalry Remounts

19.

asked whether the right hon. Gentleman is yet in a position to say by what date approximately a complete complement of Cavalry remounts will be available for the 15th Hussars?

How does the right hon. Gentleman propose to mobilise in a few weeks if he cannot mount one regiment?

The Army as a whole and this regiment in particular will be ready for mobilisation at once.

No; with horses, and with a greater complement of horses than the Cavalry has ever had before in the history of the country.

May I ask how it is he is obliged to take the Mounted Infantry cobs from one regiment to another?

It is very inconvenient to discuss this by question and answer, but it would have been a most ridiculous and extravagant proceeding to attempt to get rid of all these excellent horses, for the purposes of war as well as of peace, all at once in a hurry, just because we had a regiment returning home; the arrange- ment that has been made by the military authorities has been the best possible, and an excellent arrangement.

I have mentioned the Mounted Infantry are being reduced in number and that the cobs available are excellent cobs, and I can imagine no commander in the field would be otherwise than delighted to have them at his disposal.

Royal Flying Corps

20.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether it has been decided that the majority of future orders to be given to independent aeroplane constructors shall be for machines to the B design; and, if so, whether, in fairness to the industry, he will take steps to announce this decision?

21.

asked the right hon. Gentleman whether it is intended that any civilian aviator accepting a commission in the Reserve of the Royal Flying Corps can in no case be given a commission in that section of the Regular Forces comprised in the Military Wing; whether the nearest approach to permanent service is that he may volunteer for four years' continuous service with the Military Wing and remain during that period in the Reserve; and, if so, whether, in view of the pledges given, he will explain why these civilian aviators are so treated?

An officer of the Special Reserve Royal Flying Corps can compete for a commission in the Regular Forces subject to the usual conditions. If he is not a candidate for the Regular Army, his term of service in the Royal Flying Corps is four years, subject to extension.

22.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the motor vehicles, said to be capable of transporting the squadrons of the Royal Flying Corps by road, are designed to transport aeroplanes or merely the personnel of the squadrons; and, if so, whether there are sufficient wagons to act as transport for more than a single squadron on a war footing?

The answer to the first part of the question is that the motor vehicles mentioned are designed to carry aeroplanes, equipment, and stores, as well as personnel. The reply to the second part of the question is in the affirmative. Arrangements have already been completed for transport for the Military Wing of the Royal Flying Corps on mobilisation.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how many of these motor transport vehicles are now ready?

23.

asked the right hon. Gentleman whether the fact that a number of different officers of the Royal Flying Corps habitually fly the same machine is due to the exercise of the discretion of the officer commanding the Military Wing and of the officers commanding squadrons, or whether it is due chiefly to the scarcity of machines; whether in time of war it would be necessary to have a number of aeroplanes for each officer's use instead of a number of officers for each aeroplane; and whether he has considered the advisability of establishing an aeroplane remount department?

24.

asked whether, of the thirteen monoplanes classed as being in flying order, in spite of possible alterations which may be considered necessary, eleven of them, namely, six Deperdussins, four Flanders, and one Bleriot, have ever been flown by Regular officers of the Royal Flying Corps, and, if so, how many of these have been so flown; whether, under these circumstances, there are at the moment more than fifteen aeroplanes, including monoplanes and biplanes, belonging to the Military Wing of the Royal Flying Corps immediately available for use in time of war; and whether this number is adequate?

Of the thirteen monoplanes mentioned only three have not been flown by officers of the Royal Flying Corps, namely, two Howard Flanders and one Martin Handasyde. The reply to the second part of the question is in the affirmative.

Territorial Force (Volunteer Duty)

25.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the danger caused to other parts of the Metropolitan area by the concentration of large bodies of the police force for the protection of individuals occupying this building and the additional work thereby thrown on members of the force, he will authorise, if applied for, the services of such units of the Territorial Force as may volunteer for picket or sentry duty in the precincts of Westminster?

Royal House Artillery

26.

asked what are the names of the officers now serving in AA and BB batteries of the Royal Horse Artillery?

At the present time Captain Curling and Lieutenant Lanyon are serving with AA battery, which is ordered home from India; and Major Monkhouse and Lieutenants Ward and Gifford with BB battery, which is ordered home from South Africa.

What has happened to other officers who were serving in this regiment?

If the hon. Gentleman will put down a question I will tell him, as I have not got the whole destinations in my head at the moment.

I have been asked a definite question as to the names of the officers in two batteries, and I have given a reply.

Sir R. POLE-CAREW rose—

The hon. and gallant Gentleman should really take the trouble to put down the question. If he thinks it is of sufficient importance to ask it is of sufficient importance to be put down.

Horse Rugs

27.

asked whether the cost of providing horse rugs for the horses of their units is still borne by the officers of the mounted units of the Regular Army; whether there is any immediate prospect of the Army Council removing this charge from the officers; and how many mounted units have adopted the suggestion of the Army Council that horses standing in stables during the winter do not require rugs at all?

The question of making an allowance for the provision of horse rugs is now under consideration.

How long do the War Office and Army Council intend to consider this question, which I asked a year ago, and to which I got the same answer?

We shall consider it until we have come to a conclusion. We shall come to a conclusion very soon in a sense which the hon. Gentleman will probably be pleased to see.

In considering this question, will the right hon. Gentleman make investigation to discover if there is any other Army in the world in which the officers have to do this instead of the State?

The question is not so simple as the Noble Lord seems to think. I will send him a memorandum about it.

Officers' Uniforms

28.

asked whether, considering that it has not been found practicable to create a special branch of the Army Clothing Department to deal with officers' uniforms, and that though there is nothing in the Regulations to prevent a regiment from making an arrangement with a military outfitter regarding the supply of uniform and equipment, still little can be done in this respect when the supply required is only for one regiment, the War Office will undertake to make a general arrangement with some firm or firms to enable officers of all branches of the Service to purchase uniform, and equipment at a more reasonable rate than they can at present; and, if not, what steps the War Office propose to take in the matter?

Some few years ago an experiment was tried of supplying officers on appointment with lists of tailors willing to provide uniforms at certain cash prices; the experiment did not meet with success or with general approval in this House, and the practice was discontinued. The question of finding some other means of enabling officers to purchase uniforms at a less cost than that now prevailing is being considered.

Will that be considered in time for inclusion in next year's Estimates?

I shall certainly keep on considering this difficult question. If the hon. and gallant Member can make me any suggestion I shall be glad to have it. Every proposal on this question has been found not to work well.

Will the War Office try something to cheapen the cost of the uniforms of officers?

It is not very easy to arrive at that desirable result, and if, as I say, the hon. Gentleman has any suggestion I would be glad to have it.

Woolwich Arsenal

29.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that his predecessor gave a promise to the men at the Royal Arsenal that there should not be a reduction of piece rates unless an improved method of manufacture was introduced and that, notwithstanding this promise, young men of between eighteen and twenty years of age have been employed in the metal case factory, Royal Laboratory Department, Woolwich, at rates 33 per cent, less than the rates paid to the men; and if he will arrange that all work be paid at the same rate whether performed by old or new hands?

I cannot agree that boys should be paid the full wages of men; and I cannot admit that the promise referred to contemplated anything of the kind.

May I ask whether the promise mentioned in the question was actually given?

Yes, the promise was given, but it does not cover this case, but the case of the men only.

Can the hon. Gentleman say why it is there should be any alteration made seeing that it is piece rates that are under consideration?

I explained before that this work was very suitable for boys. We have often been pressed by hon. Members from the benches below the Gangway to retain boys, and having suitable work we thought it better to retain them.

Food Taxes

30.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can indicate the nature of the taxation it is proposed to introduce to take the place of the present heavy taxes on food which the Government proposes to remove?

I am at present unable to make any statement with regard to the Budget proposals for the coming year.

May I ask whether the House is to understand that notwithstanding statements that have been made, the present taxes on comestibles used on the breakfast-table are still to be continued?

Has the right hon. Gentleman considered the fact that a tax of a penny in the pound on the capital value of land would result in a sufficient sum to meet all the revenue at present derived from food taxes and give a handsome surplus, and will he keep that fact before him?

Land Value Duties

32.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the grounds on which the Commissioners of Inland Revenue claim payment of Increment Value Duty on fortuitous windfalls and other profits when there has been no rise in the value of the site since 30th April, 1909?

Where there has been a fortuitous windfall, and a price has been obtained in excess of the market value, the Commissioners of Inland Revenue can claim Increment Value Duty under Sub-section (2) of Section 2 of the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910, as interpreted by the recent judgment of the High Court.

Does the right hon. Gentleman suggest that on the first Budget debates any statement was made by a Member of the Government that it was intended to tax fortuitous windfalls and other profits of the builder's business?

That question has been asked and answered repeatedly, and has been the subject of debate repeatedly, and I have no doubt it will be again, and we cannot discuss it by question and answer.

Does the right hon. Gentleman think it will encourage building enterprise?

Building Trade Statistics

33.

asked whether the increase in the number of cottages and small houses in the year 1910–11, namely, 10,651, is the lowest on record for the past fifteen years?

In the year 1910–11, which was a year of revised assessments, the increase in the number of cottages and small houses exempted from Inhabited House Duty was less than in the preceding fifteen years, but the figures are not the lowest on record, those for the last year of new assessment prior to the period selected by the hon. Member having shown a decrease. As I have previously stated, the figures for 1911–12 so far as they are available point to an increase for that year as large as in any of the four years prior to 1910–11, so that there is no evidence from these statistics of any general decline in the erection of cottages and small houses.