§ 38. Sir A. POWNALLasked the Secretary of State for War whether this attention has been called to the hardship caused to members of cadet units who are no longer able to get certificate A, as can members of officers training corps?
§ Mr. SHAWAs the answer to this question is a long and detailed one I will, with the hon. and gallant Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Sir A. POWNALLCan the right hon. Gentleman answer the last part of my question, if his attention has been called to the hardship to members of cadet units who are no longer able to get certificate "A," and what action he proposes to take?
§ Mr. SHAWThat, Mr. Speaker, is one of the details. If the hon. Member desires it, I will read the answer. [HON. MEMBERS: "Read it!"]:
I understand that the hon. and gallant Member is referring to the fact that under existing regulations the possession of certificate A reckons for certain marks at the entrance examinations for the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, and that boys from schools which used to have recognised cadet corps will no longer be able to gain certificate A. At the only examination held since the withdrawal of recognition from cadet corps on 31st October last no candidate from schools having had such corps has, so far as I am aware, been excluded from these colleges because of the fact that he had not certificate A. As regards future examination for these two colleges, all present holders of the certificate and those who are already on 1618 the way to obtaining one and do so by 31st March next, will retain for competitive purposes the privileges of the additional marks which certificate A has up to now given. But, apart from present holders and those who obtain the certificate by 31st March next, the privilege of counting extra marks in respect of certificate A will be withdrawn from all candidates in the examination in November next and succeeding examinations. In the meantime, in order to ensure that candidates are not penalised as regards qualifying for admission solely by reason of not possessing certificate A, such candidates if otherwise fully qualified will be considered for nomination by the Army Council to these colleges. Full particulars will be published in the Press and communicated to the schools concerned as soon as possible.
§ Sir A. POWNALLrose—
§ Mr. SPEAKERI cannot allow any more supplementary questions after this very long answer.