§ 22. Sir B. FALLEasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether ho will consider a scheme whereby the standard of education in the upper nautical division of the Royal Naval Hospital School. Greenwich, shall be increased to that of a higher technical school and a number of annual scholarships established for naval cadetships at the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, for the sons of petty officers and men of the Royal Navy, and open to competition to all such boys who have received a higher technical education?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANThe approximate age at which boys enter Dartmouth is 13½. The approximate age at which boys leave the Royal Hospital School is 15½. Long experience has shown that it is undesirable for cadets to enter Dartmouth except at the normal age. Even if it were considered desirable to adopt the proposed scheme it would be difficult to arrange for special instruction being given to a few boys, and in any case it is extremely doubtful whether such a 1831 scheme, if adopted, would be made use of. If there are any boys in the Royal Hospital School who possess the requisite educational and other qualifications for entry as naval cadets, and are within the age limits for entry into Dartmouth, every facilitily would be granted to enable them to attend the necessary interviews and examinations
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs not the trouble that the fees are too high, and that boys whose parents are poor have no chance of getting in?