asked the Secretary of State for War how many man-hours were spent on ceremonial drill in the British Army during the last period of six months for which figures are available

No figures are available.

:Why not? Has not the War Office any information about how much ceremonial drill there is in the training programme for recruits? Surely it should be possible to get the information.

:Ceremonial parades are held on occasions like Trooping the Colour or on other occasions where the Army wants to pay tribute to some particular event. I think that it would be a waste of time for the Army and for everyone else to call for details of ceremonial parades.

:Cannot my right hon. Friend consider having a short and very sharp course of ceremonial drill for the hon. Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Mr. Swingler)?