§ 105. Mr. Bellengerasked the Secretary of State for War to set up a court of inquiry with evidence to be taken in 122W public to investigate the circumstances leading up to the death of Peter Foden, at Plumer Barracks, Plymouth.
§ Mr. HeadI very much regret this serious incident which has naturally caused great anxiety particularly among parents; and I would express my deep sympathy to the guardians of Boy Foden. I am determined to do everything possible to ensure that nothing like it shall happen again.
After the proceedings in the civil court, I thought it unwise to take the further action I had in mind until I had been able to consider the full record of evidence. I can now say what steps I am going to take.
First, a further inquiry will be held into the conduct of those individuals closely concerned with these particular boys in the Infantry Boys Battalion at Plymouth.
Immediately after this incident I made summary inquiries about all boys units and from the information at present available to me it would appear that this is an isolated case which is in no way typical of these units.
Nevertheless, the Army has a great responsibility to parents in the supervision and administration of boys units and I think it is imperative that parents should be assured that they are properly run and that their boy will not be a victim of this sort of bullying.
For this reason, I have decided that a general inquiry shall be held into the organisation and administration of all Army units for enlisted boys. I am glad to say that, for this purpose, I have been able to obtain the services of Mr. B. L. Hallward, Vice-Chancellor of Nottingham University, and Mr. J. H. Bruce Lockhart, formerly Headmaster of Sedbergh School. They will be joined by Lieut.-General Sir Euan Miller, a very experienced officer. I will make their report available to the House.