HC Deb 21 April 1953 vol 514 cc806-7
40. Mr. Doughty

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will take steps to secure the early release from requisitioning of those portions of Couls-don Common which are still held by his Department.

Mr. Head

Those parts of Coulsdon Common which are still held on requisition are at present needed for a Joint Services language school.

Mr. Doughty

Will my right hon. Friend take steps to remove the Joint Services school and free this common, which is so much required by the local inhabitants, at the earliest opportunity?

Mr. Head

I think my hon. Friend has another Question about the future of the school and I think that point will arise in his second Question.

41. Mr. Doughty

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will, in conjunction with the appropriate Service Departments, inquire into the cost of maintaining the Inter-Services School of Languages with a view to closing it down.

Mr. Head

This is a joint school and an examination is now being undertaken by the Service Departments to see if economies can be made.

Mr. Doughty

When he puts forward the view of the Army, will my right hon. Friend stress that this school ought to be closed in view of economy and that it is a complete waste of time for National Service men, instead of learning to be soldiers to be given only a smattering of Russian, which is quite useless to them and to the rest of the country?

Mr. Head

In the unfortunate event of there being a war, I think there would be an immense demand in all three Services for Russian interpreters and to cancel this scheme out of hand, as my hon. Friend suggests, would be most unwise. The point we are going into is not the abolition of such schools, but to see what economies can be made.

Mr. Shinwell

Is it not true that this school is not confined to the training of National Service men, but is open to Regulars, both officers and other ranks, and that it performs a very valuable service?

Mr. Head

Yes, I think the introduction of this school was a very wise step in view of the immense demand for interpreters in war and that is a point we are keeping in mind.

Mr. Ian Harvey

Are all sorts of languages taught at this school?

Mr. Head

No, Sir.