HC Deb 10 March 1955 vol 538 c589
7. Mr. Dodds

asked the Minister of Education what progress has been made in his discussions with his right hon. Friends representing the three branches of the armed Services, on the education of Service men's children.

Sir D. Eccles

I regret that I have nothing to add to what my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for War told the House last Tuesday in the course of the debate on the Army Estimates.

Mr. Dodds

Does the right hon. Gentleman appreciate that he told me in reply to a Question on 21st October last year that the discussions were going quite well? Can he at least say whether, after all these months, the principle has been established that the children of Service men shall not suffer unnecessary educational handicap because their fathers are serving in the Armed Forces?

Sir D. Eccles

I agree with what the hon. Gentleman says. The difficulty is that the scheme that we first thought was practicable has been found to require legislation, and we have therefore had to change our ideas about it.