§ COLONEL BERESFORDasked the Secretary of State for War, If Colonel Milward, the Superintendent of the Laboratory Department, Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, did in August last, either by orders from the War Office or on his own responsibility, withdraw the boys from attendance at the school in that department, so that only a few from other departments remained to be educated; and, if so, on what ground; if the War Office Regulation, which provided for all boys under seventeen years of age attending school on two half days in each week was abolished at the same time, after having been in force about fourteen years; whether Colonel Milward, upon remonstrance at such closing, has allowed only about three hundred out of over twelve hundred boys now employed to receive education; and, whether the Secretary of State for War will re-consider the step taken in order that all the boys in the department may be educated?
§ SIR HENRY STORKSSir, no orders were given to Colonel Milward, Superintendent of the Royal Laboratory, from the War Office in August last to withdraw the boys from attendance at the school in the Royal Arsenal. The facts of the matter are as follows:—Colonel Milward reported on the 19th of August, 1870, that in order to be able to meet the increased work on small-arm ammunition he had found it necessary, as a temporary measure, to stop the attendance of the boys at the general school. Colonel Milward's proceedings under the circumstances were approved; but he was directed to use every effort to enable the boys to resume their attendance, and this is being gradually accomplished. There is no War Office Regulation which provides that 959 all boys under 17 years of age should attend school on two half-days in each week. Colonel Milward has shown every desire to enable the boys to attend school, in accordance with the orders he has received, and the attendance now averages 350. For the number who remain eligible to attend, additional masters are required, and steps have been taken to obtain the consent of the Treasury to their appointment.