§ 55. Major HILLSasked the Lord Privy Seal whether the £2,000,000 allotted for giving university education to soldiers has been, or will be, all exhausted; whether the benefit of this Grant was extended to soldiers at base camps as well as to fighting soldiers; whether the claims of women members of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps and other women's corps, including the Voluntary Aid Detachments, are equal to those of men at base camps; and will he consider the advisability of extending this benefit to women, which can only cost a small sum, seeing that the original Grant is confined to such persons as are likely to benefit by university education, of which there cannot be a large number in women's corps?
§ The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER (Mr. Chamberlain)The original estimate of the cost of the scheme to completion was £6,000,000, and on the latest information in my possession this figure will be very seriously exceeded. The scheme applies to ex-officers and men of like educational promise. As regards the latter part of the question, there was not during the War any such general interruption of educational opportunities of 30 women as would justify their admission to the scheme, and I have received no representations on the subject from the Admiralty, War Office, or Air Ministry. Having regard to the serious excess of expenditure threatened, I should have strong objection to any fresh liability being undertaken.
§ Major HILLSIs it not the case that many women, especially among the Voluntary Aid Detachments, have interrupted their educational careers, and that unless some assistance is granted their future will be very seriously prejudiced? Is not the claim of the women as strong as that of the men, and especially those at the base camps?
§ Mr. CHAMBERLAINMy hon. Friend asked me a question which I have answered, but he is now inviting me to an argument which would not be in order.