HC Deb 28 July 1943 vol 391 c1566
38. Mr. G. Strauss

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can arrange to have Army Bureau of Current Affairs sessions in those establishments where recruits to the Navy receive their initial training?

Mr. Alexander

Activities to stimulate interest in citizenship and current affairs in the form of Brains Trusts, lectures and the like, are encouraged as far as practicable outside working hours. In order to meet the manning needs of the Navy, it has been found necessary so to compress the syllabus of the training course for new entrants that they are now kept very fully occupied both mentally and physically, and in present conditions therefore I am afraid it would not be possible to go beyond our present practice.

Mr. Strauss

If I communicate to my right hon. Friend one large training establishment where the fellows are bored for long periods and there is no teaching in current affairs, will he look into it?

Mr. Alexander

I meet from time to time large numbers of individuals from the training centres, who all express to me their great appreciation of the course.

Mr. Strauss

There is no course at all in this centre.