§ 29. Colonel M'CALMONTasked what steps have been taken since the outbreak of war to improve the training of the Officers' Training Corps contingents of public schools by the appointment of officers and warrant or non-commissioned officers as instructors?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONFull encouragement, subject to the necessity of instructing officers for duties with the Expeditionary Forces, has been given to officers of the Officers' Training Corps to improve their training by special courses of instruction and attachment to service units. A limited number of vacancies in musketry courses have also been assigned to Officers' Training Corps officers; a few senior officers have been permitted to visit the Armies in France, and also the Royal Military College. Contingents make their own arrangements for the employment of warrant and noncommissioned instructors, but it will be realised that there is such an urgent need of these men in the Army itself that it has not, so far, been possible to spare instructors for these contingents from those still serving.
§ Colonel M'CALMONTIs it not a fact that there are large numbers of officers and noncommissioned officers now in this country who are physically unfit to instruct grown-up soldiers, but who would be perfectly fit to instruct boys; and will the War Office not make some effort to assist the public schools to train the material from which our officers of the future are to be found?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONWe are doing everything possible, as my hon. Friend knows, to assist the public schools.