HC Deb 07 April 1892 vol 3 cc824-5
SIR H. ROSCOE (Manchester, S.)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that science is not a compulsory subject at the entrance examination for Woolwich, and that, although science is taught at the Royal Military Academy, no fixed minimum attainment in the subject is insisted on there; whether he is aware that, in consequence of these facts, it is possible for a cadet to gain admission to the Scientific Corps of the Royal Engineers without possessing a fair elementary knowledge of any branch of experimental science; whether he is aware that, owing to the above fact, and to the generally disadvantageous position of those cadets who have entered the Royal Military Academy with a knowledge of science as compared with those who have taken German at the entrance competition, it has of late become increasingly difficult to maintain science studies in the Army classes of public schools, and that, in consequence, there is likely soon to be a falling off in the proportion of candidates who offer science in these competitions; and whether he will undertake to investigate and to remedy this evil?

* THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. E. STANHOPE,) Lincolnshire, Horncastle

Science is not, and never has been, a compulsory subject in the entrance examination for the Royal Military Academy; but as an optional subject it is on the same level as regards marks as higher mathematics, modern languages, and classics. Science is one of ten subjects taught at the Academy, but it would be unreasonable to insist on every candidate qualifying in every subject. It is scarcely possible for a candidate to gain admission to the Engineers without a fair elementary knowledge of chemistry and physics, and so far no cadet has done so. I am not aware of the fact that it has of late become increasingly difficult to maintain science studies in the Army classes of public schools, or that in consequence there is likely soon to be a falling off in the proportion of candidates who offer science in these competitions; but I have received a paper on the subject from the hon. Member, which is being carefully looked into at the War Office.