§ 24. Mr. LUNNasked the Secretary or State for War whether any of the £1,655,000 to be spent at Catterick Camp for the purchase of additional land and development is for the extension of the agricultural training centre there or whether it is the intention of the War Office to close down agricultural training at the camp; and, if so, when this is to take place?
§ Captain KINGNo portion of this sum is provided for the purposes mentioned. There is no present intention of closing down agricultural training at Catterick Camp.
§ Mr. LUNNIs the War Office aware of the excellent reports that are now coming from Western Australia, from the group settlements there, of the men who have been trained at this agricultural camp, and of the satisfaction there is among all who have gone, and is the Department prepared to consider extending the work that is done so usefully at Catterick?
§ Captain KINGThe Department is fully aware of the appreciative reports received from the countries to which the men have gone.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODCould we not train them for work on the land in this country?
§ 26. Mr. LAWSONasked the Secretary of State for War whether the agricultural training at Catterick Camp has been curtailed during the past 12 months or whether it is intended to limit it in the near future?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSThe development of the camp during the past 12 months has reduced the amount of arable land available for agricultural training. There is no intention of reducing it further at present.
§ Mr. LAWSONDoes not the right hon. Gentleman remember promising me, on the occasion of the Estimates, that there would be no reduction of agricultural land for the purpose of training in this camp?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSI do not remember that, but I am very anxious to continue the training at Catterick. Some of the agricultural land has had to go for building there, but I am going to do what I can to replace it.
§ Mr. LAWSONIn view of the work that is being done in this camp, to which tribute has been paid on every hand, will the right hon. Gentleman take steps, not only to continue it as it has been in operation before, but to extend the work?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSOf course, that is all bound up with the 2083 question of expense. I should very much like to extend it, but I am not sure that I would be able to get the money.
§ Mr. LUNNWould it not be better to be training these men who are finishing their service in the Army for work on the land, either at home or overseas, than let them join the unemployed army, as to-day?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSCertainly. That is the policy of the Government, and that is why vocational training has been carried on.