§ 73. Mr. Brookeasked the President of the Board of Education whether he is 507 aware of the possibility that boys who were intending to stay at school and compete for a State science bursary tenable at a university may now be tempted to leave school at an earlier age in order to take up one of the newly offered engineering cadetships; whether this is in accordance with the Government's policy; and whether he can make a statement on the respective purposes which these two distinct types of award are intended to serve?
§ Mr. ButlerThe State science bursary scheme is intended to supply the Services and industry with men and women graduates in science and engineering; the engineering cadet scheme is designed to assist in meeting the additional demands of the Fighting Services for suitably qualified technical officers. The initial arrangements for this latter scheme have up to the present been limited to securing a flow of applicants from among boys who have already left school. The further development of this scheme is at present under consideration and the point to which my hon. Friend draws attention is one that will be taken into account. In the meantime it is not desired that boys should leave school with the idea of becoming eligible to take up these cadetships, as arrangements are being worked out for the selection of boys while still at school.