LORD PHILLIMOREhad the following Question on the Paper: Since His Majesty's Government have decided to reorganise the Cadet Force with a view to encouraging it as a source of potential recruits for the armed forces of the Crown (Army Council Instruction No. 250 of 1937); and seeing that the War Office grant for cadets is approximately one-sixth of the cast of a cadet during the first year of his service; seeing that even the cost of attending camp is only covered as to one-ninth by the existing grant; seeing that it is not possible to develop a movement such as this without some provision for games and athletics; seeing that the National Fitness Council has declined to make grants to the Cadet Force on the ground that provision is 34WA already being made by the War Office; and seeing that large numbers of youths are willing to join the Cadet Force even at some pecuniary sacrifice; to inquire whether His Majesty's Government will not consider substantially increasing the amount of the grant.
§ THE UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (LORD STRATHCONA AND MOUNT ROYAL)A grant of £750 annually is given to the British National Cadet Association, which is the authority responsible for the organisation and administration of the Cadet Force, for central administration. A grant of 4s. is made to recognised cadet units affiliated to the military forces for each qualified cadet, and county cadet committees who are responsible for local administration receive is. for each qualified cadet. Grants are limited to 60,000 qualified cadets. In addition cadet units affiliated to the military forces are given certain privileges; e.g., camp equipments under certain conditions are issued free, "drill purposes" carbines or rifles are issued free on loan and cadet units are permitted to purchase accoutrements and materials, etc., for uniform.
A Committee is being appointed, under my Chairmanship, to investigate the position in the military organisation of the Officers Training Corps and the Cadet Force, and to make recommendations.