HC Deb 27 April 1960 vol 622 cc196-8
22. Mr. Critchley

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty how many motor boats and sailing and pulling boats provided from naval sources are in use by the Combined Cadet Force and Sea Cadet Units.

Mr. C. Ian Orr-Ewing

The naval sections of the Combined Cadet Force have 114 pulling and sailing craft but do not use power boats. The Sea Cadet Corps have in use 113 power boats and 631 pulling and sailing craft.

23. Commander Kerans

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty what arrangements are being made for members of naval sections of the Combined Cadet Force and Sea Cadets to visit ships of the operational Fleet; for how many arrangements will be made to undertake such visits in 1960; and how many will go to sea.

Mr. C. Ian Orr-Ewing

We are arranging for at least 192 cadets from naval sections of the Combined Cadet Force and 1,000 Sea Cadets to go to sea for training in operational ships during 1960. In addition, there will be day visits to ships for parties of cadets; last year Combined Cadet Force parties alone made 300 such visits.

Commander Kerans

While welcoming that reply, may I ask whether anything can be done to increase these visits, especially to foreign ports?

Mr. Orr-Ewing

We should like to increase the number of visits. I would point out that, in addition to the visits to operational ships, which are the most desirable, 5,500 visits are being made to naval establishments on shore. I will look into the question of visits to foreign ports, but I should point out that this involves certain difficulties of transport to and from the area concerned.

24. Commander Kerans

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty what was the cost to the Royal Navy of the assistance rendered to the Sea Cadet Corps and the Combined Cadet Force in 1959; and what has been the return in the number of entries during that year.

Mr. C. Ian Orr-Ewing

In 1959, the cost of the assistance rendered by the Royal Navy to the Sea Cadet Corps amounted to £224,400 and to the Combined Cadet Force to £68,000. During that year, 707 Sea Cadets and 162 cadets from naval sections of the Combined Cadet Force entered the Royal Navy. A further 418 cadets entered the Merchant Navy and 22 entered the Royal Naval Reserve.

Commander Kerans

Can my hon. Friend say what is the relative strength of the Sea Cadet Corps and the naval section of the Combined Cadet Force?

Mr. Orr-Ewing

The strength of the Sea Cadet Corps is 19,000 and the strength of the naval section of the Combined Cadet Force is 5,000.