HC Deb 17 December 1946 vol 431 c1751
32. Mr. Swingler

asked the Secretary of State for War when he expects to be in a position to announce his plan of education for the postwar Army.

Mr. Bellenger

I am not yet in a position to add anything to the answer I gave my hon. Friend on 15th October. The final plans for Army education are now before the Army Council and I shall make a further statement about them immediately the details have been settled early in the New Year.

Mr. Swingler

Is the Secretary of State aware that the delay in regard to this matter has now lasted for more than 12 months and that he is losing the best men for the job, and is this kind of delay regarded as satisfactory or unsatisfactory at the War Office?

Mr. Kenneth Lindsay

May I ask what is the reason for this delay, because the right hon. Gentleman has already lost the best men?

Mr. Bellenger

There has not been any delay. What has been happening is that the Army has been running down and is now beginning slowly to be built up again. I have to make plans for the new Army; those plans have been in course of consideration for some time, and I hope very soon now to be able to announce something on the subject.