HL Deb 05 November 1970 vol 312 c453
LORD BROCKWAY

My Lords, I beg leave 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 conclusions they have reached on the recommendations of the Donaldson Committee on boy entrants in the Armed Forces.]

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR DEFENCE (LORD CARRINGTON)

My Lords, we have received a full and valuable Report from the Committee which we are studying sympathetically with a view to the early publication of the Report itself and of the Government's conclusions.

LORD BROCKWAY

My Lords, in thanking the noble Lord for that Answer, may I ask him whether he will consider publication of the Report in order that Members of both Houses, and the public, may have an informed estimation of its relevance and justice prior to the Government announcing their conclusions.

LORD CARRINGTON

No, my Lords, that is something which would be very unusual. But I can promise the noble Lord that he will not have to wait very long before he has the Report and the decisions.

LORD KILMANY

My Lords, may I ask my noble friend whether the Army Cadet Force Association have been consulted at all in this matter? They are a body with considerable knowledge of this type of problem. If they have not been consulted, will my noble friend consider having a word with them?

LORD CARRINGTON

My Lords, I am not in a position to say, offhand, whether they were one of the bodies which were consulted by the Donaldson Committee, but I will look into that.