HC Deb 17 June 1971 vol 819 c628
25. Mr. W. H. K. Baker

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will take steps to set up more University Royal Naval Units similar to the unit now existing at Aberdeen University.

Mr. Kirk

Yes, Sir. We plan to establish a unit at the University of Liverpool shortly, and negotiations are proceeding with the Universities of Glasgow and Southampton to set up units there by next January.

Mr. Baker

Will my hon. Friend accept from me that that is a very satisfactory answer? What success has there been at Aberdeen University? Will the extension oft his scheme make an improvement in the recruitment of officers to the Royal Navy?

Mr. Kirk

We very much hope that it will. So far at Aberdeen we have two undergraduates holding university cadet-ships; there is an application being considered from a further cadet and one application for graduate entry has been received this year. This is not a bad result in view of the size of the unit.