§ 24. Mr. Carmichaelasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what special qualification Air Vice-Marshal Ronald Graham had for the appointment of Commandant of the Scottish Police Training College; whether he has considered the resolution of protest made by the Scottish Police Federation against the appointment of a person with no police knowledge or supervision; and whether a person trained in police service could not have been found to fill this position.
§ Mr. WoodburnI would refer my hon. Friend to the replies given on 25th January and 1st February to Questions on this subject.
§ Mr. CarmichaelDoes not the Minister consider that the military mind in civil affairs is a bad thing and that it would be better to appoint somebody with a knowledge of civil affairs instead of, say, a militarist?
§ Mr. CarmichaelI do not want an Admiral but somebody with civic knowledge.
§ Mr. WoodburnI have had the opportunity of mixing with some of the people who have been running the Air Force, both administratively and otherwise, and I certainly formed a very high opinion of their capacity. In this case, the man was not appointed because he had been in the Air Force, neither was he debarred because of his Air Force service. He was appointed by a committee, including police people, who selected him, because of his outstanding ability for this job, as being the best man in all the circumstances.