§ 2.42 p.m.
§ VISCOUNT BRIDGEMANMy Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken or propose to take to implement the recommendations in the Report of the Committee on the organisation and administration of boys' units in the Army.]
§ EARL FORTESCUEMy Lords, as recommended by the Report, my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for War has appointed a full-time Director of Boys' Training. He has also set up a committee, under the chairmanship of the Director-General of Military Training, to help in putting the many recommendations contained in the Report into effect as quickly as possible. The daily life of the boys in boys' units has already been greatly altered and after the summer holidays will generally conform with the policy outlined in the Report. The system of selecting boys, which was changed at the end of last year to improve the standard of entry, is already showing promising results. Further, more officers have been provided for boys' units, and great care is being taken to select suitably qualified staff. These changes, combined with longer tours of duty for instructors, are securing the improvements which the Committee considered necessary. We have also adopted a number of the other recommendations contained in the Report.
§ VISCOUNT BRIDGEMANMy Lords, is my noble friend aware that that reply goes a long way, and is very satisfactory, so far as it goes? But in view of the far-reaching and important nature of the Report, will he urge upon his right honourable friend the Secretary of State for 976 War the need to take proper Estimate action in order to implement the remaining recommendations of the Report?
§ EARL FORTESCUEMy Lords, in reply to what the noble Viscount has just said, I shall have much pleasure in bringing his remarks to the notice of my right honourable friend.