HC Deb 08 June 1896 vol 41 cc603-4
SIR JOHN KENNAWAY (Devon, Honiton)

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War, on what grounds a new regulation has been made fixing the Woolwich summer vacation to commence on 20th June and terminate on 11th August; whether it has been brought to his attention that this arrangement is not unlikely to cause great inconvenience to parents of cadets, especially to those who have sons in other educational establishments, seeing that the almost universal practice is to commence vacations about 1st August; and, whether these dates can be reconsidered?

* THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. BRODRICK,) Surrey, Guildford

The considerations advanced by the hon. Baronet were not lost sight of when the alteration was introduced. It was made on the repeated recommendation of the Board of Visitors, in order to assimilate the vacations of Woolwich and Sandhurst, to reduce their length, and to throw a maximum of fine weather suited to outdoor work into the terms. The change also shortens by nearly three months the period of idleness which followed the examination for admission. It is not practicable to make the vacations of a year with two terms agree with those of the public schools which have three terms in a year.