7. Lieut.-Colonel A. MURRAYasked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the statement made in the pamphlet issued with Army Order No. 7, of 13th May, 1919, that educational training is not to be regarded as a secondary consideration, but as an essential element in the making of a soldier and an Army, and provides a link with civil life and the nation at large, he could say whether some such educational system as had proved so successful in the British Army of the Rhine will be a definite organisation of the future Army?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI am glad to be in a position to say that it has been decided that education is henceforward to be regarded as an integral part of Army training. Hon. Members will, however, realise that the establishment necessary to give 148 effect to this principle cannot be laid down in detail until the composition and conditions of service of the future Army are finally decided.
8. Lieut.-Colonel MURRAYasked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the statement made on 11th June by the President of the Board of Education, that the fact that education was henceforward to be an essential part of Army training was one of the great steps forward in social progress, he would say what arrangements had been made to afford to Regular units proceeding overseas the advantages of the present Army educational scheme?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLArrangements are being made, as far as possible in the present circumstances, to ensure that Regular units proceeding overseas shall not suffer a break in the continuity of their present educational training, but shall be enabled to carry into effect the decision I have announced in answer to the previous question.
§ 16. Captain BOWYERasked the Secretary of State for War if he will state the nature of the facilities provided for the general and technical education of apprentices and others in the Army at home and abroad, and in particular of the Army of the Rhine; and the results that have attended the provision of these facilities?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLA full statement as to the educational organisation in the Army was given in my reply to the hon. and learned Member for York on the 3rd April last. This organisation has been confirmed and, where necessary, modified or supplemented by an Army Order issued on the 13th May which sets forth the principles, curricula, and the whole system. I am sending my hon. and gallant Friend a copy of the Army Order. Very satisfactory results have attended these educational facilities. For example, the last Return from the Array of the Rhine, to which my hon. and gallant Friend specially refers, shows that the numbers attending classes during June were 1,295 apprentices and 72,075 other students. In this Return the additional students in the three Army colleges, namely, the General and Commercial College at Cologne, the Science College at Bonn, and the Technical College at Siegburg, are not included owing to the fact that during part of June there was a break between the courses at these colleges.