HC Deb 07 March 1956 vol 549 c2080
1. Mr. Hayman

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many candidates were successful in the third competition for Royal naval scholarships; and how many came from county secondary schools, direct grant grammar schools, and public schools, respectively.

The Parliamentary and Financial Secretary to the Admiralty (Mr. George Ward)

Thirty-two candidates were successful, of whom five came from maintained grammar schools, three from direct grant grammar schools, nineteen from independent schools and five from nautical schools.

Mr. Hayman

Is the Minister aware that most of these selected candidates come from fee-paying boarding schools? Is the selection by interview only, and if so, will the hon. Gentleman not ask the Admiralty to be honest about the matter and advise the non-paying grammar schools that they had better end the farce of submitting candidates?

Mr. Ward

The final board accepted roughly the same proportion of candidates from each type of school who appeared before it—about 60 per cent. I can assure the hon. Member that the test is not by interview only and that everybody has the same fair chance.