39. Mr. Vaneasked the Secretary of State for War what opportunities are afforded to the colonels of county regiments to make and maintain touch with National Service men wishing to be considered for commissions in the regiment with which they have family or residential connections.
§ Mr. HeadThese men all go to Eaton Hall Officer Cadet School where there is a representative of each infantry regiment. The cadet there has an opportunity of being interviewed by the representative who forwards his particulars to the colonel of the regiment for which he wishes to be considered.
Mr. VaneDo I understand from my right hon. Friend that a colonel of a regiment cannot take any initiative himself and simply has to wait until some 806 representative of his, who may not hold a commission in the same regiment, writes to him from Eaton Hall?
§ Mr. HeadNo, I can assure my hon. Friend that is not so. Colonels of regiments take considerable initiative and have full opportunities for doing so. Many of the contacts are made before the boys go to Eaton Hall on the chance that they will get a vacancy.