asked the Secretary of State for War whether area commanders are required to address officers' training corps, both senior and junior, within their areas with a view to encouraging recruitment in the Forces of the Crown, including the Regular Army, the Supplementary Reserve, the Territorial Army and the Officers Emergency Reserve?

There is no requirement, but area commanders do frequently act in the spirit of the question.

Would the right hon. Gentleman consider the desirability of encouraging the tapping of those very good sources of recruiting for these various Forces?

I am aware of the goodness of the sources, but I think that area commanders as a whole do avail themselves of it. I should be very pleased to encourage it in any way possible.

Have area commanders always the gift of eloquence?

asked the Secretary of State for War what are the estimated annual requirements of recruits necessary to maintain the Army at full strength; and whether these requirements are now being fully met?

The number of recruits required depends on the establishment in any particular year. It is estimated that 60,000 recruits may be required for the Regular Army next year. I hope we shall have obtained 40,000 recruits before the expiry of the current financial year.

Do not these figures disclose a rather serious position; and, in view of current events abroad, has the right hon. Gentleman any further proposals for bringing the Army up to establishment at an early date?

The War Office has done its best to exploit the voluntary system to its utmost, and recruiting has been doubled this year as compared with last year.

In view of the right hon. Gentleman's last reply, may I ask whether he is now of opinion that the voluntary system is not capable of fulfilling the requirements of the Army?

I made no such statement.