§ 15. Mr. HUGH MORRISONasked the Secretary of State for War whether he will set up a special committee to investigate and report upon the trading of the Navy, Army, and Air Force Institutes, with an independent chairman, and with adequate representation of the trading and commercial interests in the country?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSI do not think any further inquiry necessary. A Committee presided over by my right hon. Friend the Member for the Ecclesall Division of Sheffield reported that they were "convinced that the maintenance of a permanent organisation of the kind is most desirable as a matter of policy, both because of the amenities which it affords to members of the forces, and more particularly because it provides the nucleus of a service capable of immediate expansion on mobilisation."
§ 21. Mr. MORRISONasked the Secretary of State for War how many officials are employed in the offices of the Navy, Army, and Air Force Institutes in Fisherton Street, Salisbury; what is the annual cost of their salaries; and how many are ex-service men?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSTen females and 27 males are employed in the office of the Navy, Army, and Air 1698 Force Institutes at Salisbury. As these, institutes are not chargeable to Army Votes I am not in a position to say what is the annual cost of the salaries in question. Of the male employés, 11 are ex-service men, nine were under age during the War, one was unfit, and six were exempted. I am drawing the attention of the board of management of the Navy, Army, and Air Force Institutes to the low proportion of ex-service men employee at Salisbury.
§ Viscount WOLMERIs it not a fact that the Board of Management is under the control of the Army Council, the Admiralty and the Air Ministry, and are not those Departments responsible for the expenditure incurred by the Board of Management?
§ Mr. RAWLINSONOn what Vote does this expenditure appear?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSIt is not borne on any Vote. No public funds are involved. It is not true to say that the institutes are under the control of the three Departments concerned. Those Departments are represented on the Board of Management, but in no sense do they control the Board. The most I can do is to call the attention of the Board to the very low proportion of ex-service men employed.
§ Viscount WOLMERIs it possible for the Board of Management to pursue a policy directly contrary to the policy of His Majesty's Government?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSI think the Noble Lord should give me a specific question: then I will tell him.