HC Deb 23 January 1940 vol 356 cc361-3
34. Mr. Creech Jones

asked the Secretary of State for War for what reason the Army Education Corps has been abandoned; what steps are being taken to pursue the recommendations of the Gore11 scheme made in the last great war; whether any consultations have taken place with the Board of Education with respect to education facilities for militiamen; and what encouragement is being given to the voluntary bodies in adult education to arrange informal or group study among the soldiers?

Mr. Stanley

The Army Educational Corps has not been abandoned. Although a proportion of its personnel were called on to perform other duties on mobilization, the remainder are still employed on educational work. A scheme was drawn up before the war, in consultation with the Board of Education, for the provision of educational facilities for militiamen. This was interrupted by the outbreak of war, but preparations are now being made to put into operation a scheme on similar lines, and voluntary bodies are co-operating. The scheme is on the lines of the Gorell scheme.

Mr. Creech Jones

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider whether some generous financial grant can be made available for the spread of this work, and also do his utmost to obtain encouragement from military authorities all over the country in order that this work can be done efficiently?

Mr. Stanley

Certainly. I regard work of this kind, whether it takes the form of direct lectures or, as in some instances during the last war, education by correspondence, as being of the utmost importance, and I certainly will do everything myself, and press upon everybody the necessity of helping on this work.

Mr. Lees-Smith

Does the right hon. Gentleman suggest that the number of members of the Army Educational Corps who are still left to deal with this work will be enough properly to conduct this scheme?

Mr. Stanley

I am not quite certain that a scheme of this kind is necessarily best conducted merely by the personnel of the Army Educational service. It is, of course, a quite different type of education from that which they were giving in peace time.

Mr. Woodburn

Would the Minister agree to give the same facilities to all such educational bodies in the country to carry on such educational work in the Army?

Mr. Stanley

Facilities cannot be given to people indiscriminately. They must form part of the co-ordinated scheme, but we shall welcome the co-operation of anybody in it.

Mr. Woodburn

But postal courses would not interfere with your whole scheme.