HC Deb 19 December 1945 vol 417 cc1311-2
7. Commander Pursey

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the date of the next entry, and for applications, into the Royal Hospital School, Holbrook; and whether, in view of the modified physical and educational standards, the 70 candidates rejected on the last occasion will be eligible for a further attempt and will be so informed.

Mr. Alexander

Preliminary examinations of candidates for the next entry to the Royal Hospital School have already taken place, and the final examination will be held at the School on 8th January, 1946. A further examination will probably be held in May, 1946, to which some of the 70 candidates who failed on the last occasion will be invited.

8. Commander Pursey

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the number of boys who can be accommodated at the Royal Hospital School, Holbrook; the number now borne; and, as A.R.P. reasons no longer restrict the number, when it is intended to fill the school to capacity, observing the increase in the number of orphans who are eligible for entry because their fathers served in the R.N. or Mercantile Marine and lost their lives in the late war.

Mr. Alexander

The school was planned to hold as a maximum 860 boys, involving a total of 80 boys in each hostel, other than the new entry hostel. The Standing Advisory Committee recommend that this maximum should not be entered unless certain structural alterations, designed to secure better supervision can be made. Meanwhile, the numbers in the School are expected gradually to increase, and all eligible candidates are being accepted. The average number borne during the last three months is 521.

Commander Pursey

As there is a large amount of accommodation available and a full staff, and there are a large number of orphans who ought to be accommodated, will my right hon. Friend do his best to remove the bottleneck and to ensure that as many boys as fall within the category of "orphan" are enrolled at the next entrance?

Mr. Alexander

I am not aware that there is a bottleneck. The school is open for applications from all people of this kind, and, as I have said in my first answer, all eligible candidates are being accepted. If my hon. and gallant Friend has any case which seems to show that there is a hitch and he will let me have the details, I will look into it.