§ 2.51 p.m.
§ Lord GisboroughMy 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 how many university places were sponsored by the armed services in 1980.
Viscount LongMy Lords, in 1980 the Armed Forces provided financial support for a total of 1,320 service officers, cadets and bursary-holders who were undertaking first degree or postgraduate courses at universities. This figure excludes Open University courses.
§ Lord GisboroughMy Lords, I thank the noble Viscount for that Answer. Could he say what was the cost of these courses, and could he also tell us the system of pay and allowances for those who attended them?
Viscount LongMy Lords, the figure is about £4,000 per annum per head on average. That figure excludes university fees paid directly by the Ministry of Defence to the universities. As to the numbers who fall by the wayside, that is difficult to say; but the majority of the students stay in the services afterwards.
§ Lord PeartMy Lords, I hope the noble Viscount will accept that this scheme is really a successful one, and that it is important that many of our future officers should be trained in mathematics and other matters which are essential in gunnery, for example. This applies also to the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force; and so anyattempt to have criticism would be disastrous.
Viscount LongMy Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord for what he has just said; and, of course, the scheme is also important for recruitment into the services. As he said, it is very important for us to have the finest brains in all our services.