HC Deb 02 February 1937 vol 319 cc1390-1
3. Mr. Bellenger

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can make a statement on the experiment of special training and nourishment for certain selected recruits under standard; and whether he proposes to extend the experiment to include large numbers of recruits now rejected as unfit?

Mr. Cooper

At the end of the initial three months' training, 31 of the 33 recruits who had, been selected for experiment were adjudged to be fit to start the normal recruits' course and were passed to their regimental depots for this purpose; 24 have since been passed as up to standard, while seven, who have not yet reached normal standard but have made such progress as to justify their retention, are under special observation at their depots. The experiment is regarded as successful, and its practical application on a larger scale is under consideration.

Mr. Lambert

Does this nourishment include frozen meat?

Mr. J. J. Davidson

Can the right hon. Gentleman give us any indication as to the approximate weekly cost in keeping these men in nourishment, to maintain the standard?

Mr. Cooper

I cannot, without notice.

Mr. George Griffiths

Now that the Minister has proved that the diet with which he has been experimenting since 13th October is good, with margarine left out, will he see that everybody in the Army gets butter?

Miss Ward

Will the right hon. Gentleman hand over the text of that experiment to the Ministry of Labour, as it will be very useful for dealing with people in the Special Areas from the point of view of nutrition?