§ 52. Mr. WISEasked the Secretary of State for War what percentage of former members of the junior division of the Officers Training Corps subsequently join the Territorial Army; and what percentage they bear to the total numbers who join the Territorial Army?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for WAR (Mr. T. Shaw)If my hon. Friend is referring to the total of those who join the Territorial Army in the ranks, I regret that the information cannot be made available without disproportionate labour. As regards officers, I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate the figures in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following are the figures:
| (1) | Total number of ex-cadets of the Junior Division, Officers Training Corps, who received commissions in the Territorial Army during 1930 | 432 |
| Estimated number of cadets who left the Junior Division, Officers Training Corps, during 1930 | 7,694 | |
| Percentage of ex-cadets of the Junior Division, Officers Training Corps, taking commissions in the Territorial Army | 5.61 | |
| (2) | Total number of commissions granted in the Territorial Army during 1930 | 622 |
| Percentage of commissions in the Territorial Army granted to ex-cadets of the Junior Division, Officers Training Corps | 69.45 |
§ NOTE.—In addition a number of ex-cadets of the Senior Division who took commissions in the Territorial Army previously served in the Junior Division, Officers Training Corps.
§ 53. Mr. WISEasked the Secretary of State for War whether he will explain the effect of the decision that 15 years shall be the minimum age for recognition of members of school officers training corps and 16 years the minimum age on which Government grants will be paid; and whether the expense of providing uniforms, arms, equipment, instruction and military supervision for boys between 15 and 16 years of age will fall on the parents or whether any part of such expenses will be borne by public funds?
§ Mr. SHAWIn future no boys under 15 years of age will be permitted to enrol in the Junior Officers Training Corps. Nor, when the new arrangements are fully in force, will any responsibility or expense fall on Army funds in respect of boys 2030 between 15 and 16 years of age, except that such boys may attend camp, if within the authorised camp establishment, and be allowed there the usual camp equipment.
Viscountess ASTORCan the right hon. Gentleman explain why it is that Members of Parliament are so keen about Russia and so against voluntary service?
§ Mr. WISEMay I ask whether the effect is not that the Government grants will go to the rich schools at which boys stay until the age of 18 or 19, and not to the municipal secondary and similar schools?
§ Mr. SHAWI think the hon. Gentleman will recognise that to give an answer to that question would be taking an undue amount of the time devoted to questions. There was an ample opportunity for discussing this question on the Estimates.