§ 50. Mr. TOUCHEasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that the raising in 1931 of the minimum age for cadets in the junior division of the officers' training corps has considerably diminished the efficiency of such units; and will he consider reducing the age of entry?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the WAR OFFICE (Mr. Douglas Hacking)No, Sir. I do not propose to consider lowering the minimum age for enrolment. The raising of the age in 1931 reduced numbers but not efficiency.
§ 51. Mr. TOUCHEasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that certain units of the officers' training corps, junior division, have recently been disbanded or are about to be disbanded; and which are the contingents concerned and the reasons for their disbandment?
§ Mr. HACKINGYes, Sir. Instructions have been issued for the following contingents to be disbanded:—Bradford Grammar School, Northampton School, Reigate Grammar School, and Rydal School. These contingents are being disbanded because they have not, over a period of years, sufficiently fulfilled the purpose for which contingents are designed, that is, to supply officers for the Territorial Army and Supplementary Reserve in peace, and to build up a reserve of potential officers for use in emergency. They are being replaced.