asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the concern felt at the proposal to enrol all mobile Voluntary Aid Detachments into the Auxiliary Territorial Service and the strong opposition to such a step, he will say what action the Government propose to take in the matter?

No decision has been taken in this matter. The British Red Cross Society and the Order of St. John are considering certain proposals, designed to make the best use of woman-power, and nothing more will be done until their views have been made known to the Army Council.

Can my right hon. Friend give any reasons why a change of this kind should be contemplated at all, in view of the feeling among V.A.Ds. that it is most undesirable?

I could not give all the reasons in answer to a question. It would take too long. As far as I can make out, all solutions of this problem are open to objection, and this one has been put forward as the least bad.

Will the House be given an opportunity of discussing the matter before a decision is arrived at?

I will consider that.