HC Deb 09 November 1948 vol 457 cc1363-4
23. Major Sir Thomas Dugdale

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that, with respect to the Peronne Lines County Modern School, Catterick Camp, transferred from the War Department to the North Riding local education authority on 1st April, 1948, the War Department offered to provide accommodation for the headmaster-elect, but have decided to provide a warrant officer's quarter and have declined to give an assurance to the authority that an officer's quarter will be provided for him as soon as circumstances permit; and if he will review this position.

Mr. Shinwell

The local education authority was offered the only quarter available—namely, the warrant officer's quarter previously occupied by the outgoing Army head-teacher. The head- master of this school is not a War Department employee and the Department is under no obligation to provide quarters for him. The offer of the only accommodation available was made with the sole aim of helping the local education authority, and purely as an interim measure until they could provide the necessary quarters for the master who is employed by them.

Sir T. Dugdale

Has the Secretary of State consulted the Minister of Education on this point; is he aware that, late in May, the Director of Army Education intimated to the local education authority that, had the officers' quarters been available at that time, no doubt, the headmaster would have accepted such quarters; and that the headmaster had accepted the warrant officers' quarters on the assumption that that was an interim measure?

Mr. Shinwell

Obviously, it is an interim measure until proper quarters can be provided, but there are great difficulties in providing the desired accommodation.

24. Sir T. Dugdale

asked the Secretary of State for War whether an officer's quarter is provided for a civilian headmaster who is seconded from the staff of a local education authority for service in Army Children's Schools abroad.

Mr. Shinwell

Teachers seconded from local education authorities in this country for service in Army Children's Schools overseas, will be War Department employees and their salary, allowances and quartering will be a War Department responsibility. They will be treated as of officer status and will be eligible for appropriate privileges. It must be realised, however, that except for single male teachers, who will probably be accommodated in an officers' mess, the allotment of quarters will depend upon local conditions, and the standard of quarters varies.