asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in order to promote recruiting, voluntary recruits from Northern Ireland may be permitted to wear a small emblem of the red hand in the same position and manner as troops of certain overseas contingents wear the name of their place of origin?

I regret that it would not be practicable to adopt my hon. and gallant Friend's proposal, which would cut across the existing system of badges for units from all parts of the United Kingdom.

In view of the refusal of this House to extend the National Service Acts to Northern Ireland, are no steps to be taken to encourage voluntary recruiting? Does my hon. Friend not think that this would assist voluntary recruiting in this exceptional case?

The adoption of my hon. and gallant Friend's proposal to have a distinguishing badge for Northern Ireland, as in the case of troops from the Dominions, might give rise to an impression that Northern Ireland was not regarded as an integral part of the United Kingdom.

As it has not been regarded as an integral part of the United Kingdom as regards National Service, could we not have this distinction?