§ 18. Air-Commodore Harveyasked the Secretary of State for Air how many university entrants for the Royal Air Force have been granted permanent commissions since 1st January, 1946.
§ Mr. A. HendersonThe number of candidates granted permanent commissions under the university entry scheme since 1st January, 1946, is 25. In addition many university graduates who served during the war on emergency commissions or, later, on extended service or short service commissions, have been granted permanent commissions, but it is not possible to ascertain the number without a comprehensive examination of the records of individual officers.
§ Air-Commodore HarveyWhile recognising that the figures given are extremely low—25 since January, 1946—and the fact that the Cadet College at Cranwell is only two-thirds full, although free of charge, may I ask the right hon. and learned Gentleman what he proposes to do to increase recruiting both from the schools and from the universities?
§ Mr. HendersonWe are doing what we can to encourage recruiting, as the hon. and gallant Member knows, but it is quite impossible to compel people to come into these schools if they do not want to do so.