HC Deb 19 April 1955 vol 540 cc20-1
36. Mr. Dugdale

asked the Secretary of State for War which of the recommendations of the Report of the Committee on the Organisation and Administration of Boys' Units in the Army he proposes to adopt.

Mr. F. Maclean

As my right hon. Friend explained in his Prefatory Note to the Committee's Report, he has accepted in principle the Committee's recommendations. These concern selection, staffing, curriculum, location, accommodation and higher control. A standing committee under the chairmanship of the Director-General of Military Training has been set up to supervise their implementation in detail.

Mr. Dugdale

In view of the concern which must be felt by the parents of boys in establishments of this character after the recent happenings in one of them, will the hon. Gentleman see that this question is gone into as a matter of urgency, so that satisfactory alterations may be made where necessary?

Mr. Maclean

My right hon. Friend and myself have both explained in the House that this matter has been treated as one of great urgency from the first, and, as I have explained, a special branch is being set up in the War Office to supervise boys' units. In addition, a standing committee has been set up to supervise the detailed implementation of the Committee's recommendations.