§ 22. Major-General Sir FREDERICK SYKESasked the Secretary of State for War the grounds upon which the officers training corps at King Edward VII School, Sheffield, has been disbanded?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSA communication has been received from the headmaster to the effect that the Higher Education Committee of Sheffield had decided that the contingent should be discontinued and its activities should cease at the end of the Easter term on the grounds that military forms of teaching to boys in schools are wrong. The Director of Education of the Sheffield County Borough Council has been asked to communicate direct with the War Office on the subject. In the meantime I have not agreed to the disbandment of the contingent.
§ Mr. MAXTONDo I understand that the right hon. Gentleman is now taking charge of the education system, as well as of the War Office?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSOh, no. The hon. Gentleman will be wrong in thinking that. I have asked the Higher Education Committee to communicate with me if they wish this unit to be disbanded, and, in the meantime, I am not disbanding it. If they do wish it to be disbanded, I have no power to cause it to be continued, and it would be disbanded. Its place would be taken very quickly by another applicant for recognition.