HC Deb 01 May 1968 vol 763 cc1106-7
48. Mr. Goodhart

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when the proposed Royal Defence Academy will be opened.

50. Mr. Dalyell

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why he is delaying the proposed extensions at Shrivenham College of Science.

Mr. Healey

I have nothing to add at present to my announcement in the Statement Cmnd. 3540, Chapter III, paragraph 9 on Defence Estimates, 1968.

Mr. Goodhart

Does the Minister deny the authoritative reports that the opening of the Defence Academy is to be long delayed? At a time when the provision of vital weapons and manpower is being cut back, is it not crazy to economise on the training of young officers?

Mr. Healey

I do not know if the hon. Gentleman is referring to a report in The Times newspaper as an authoritative report, but it is time that people in this country and outside recognised that The Times is not the voice of Her Majesty's Government; nor is it, I understand, the voice of Her Majesty's Opposition.

Mr. Dalyell

Has my right hon. Friend any sympathy with the view that the excellent facilities at Shrivenham should be used for civilian as well as military purposes?

Mr. Healey

I have great sympathy with that view and I believe that my hon. Friend has a later Question on the subject.

51. Mr. Dalyell

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will increase the number of civilian scholars at Shrivenham.

Mr. Healey

No, Sir.

Mr. Dalyell

Is my right hon. Friend aware that nowhere in Britain is there such a favourable ratio of students to staff as at Shrivenham? At a time of great shortage, particularly of engineering places, could not the facilities at Shrivenham be made more readily available for civilian scholars?

Mr. Healey

The reason why we have not made more places available at Shrivenham is because those which we have made available have not been taken up. However, if civilian students wish to enter Shrivenham in sufficient numbers to require an enlargement of the quota, we will certainly consider that.

Mr. Dalyell

What about giving the matter more publicity?