§ Mr. C. Smithasked the Secretary of State for War if he will make a statement on the degree of Ministerial control and supervision exercised over the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes.
§ Mr. ShinwellThe policy of the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes Corporation in such matters as the scope of trading and limitation of financial and commercial operations is subject to directions issued by the Council of the Corporation, which consists of 12 members appointed in equal numbers by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, the Army Council and the Air Council. The Council obtains the general approval of the Service Departments prior to giving such directions.
Subject to such restrictions, the business of the Corporation is conducted by a Board of Management, which consists of seven members, including a Chairman, appointed on the joint recommendation of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty and the Army Council, a deputy Chairman, appointed on the joint recommendation of the Army Council and the Air Council and three serving officers appointed by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, the Army Council and the Air Council respectively.
The Services thus exercise direct control of the general policy of the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes but the only control exercised over the day-to-day 233W business of the Corporation is in respect of the appointment of members of the Board of Management. No direct Ministerial control is exercised over the conduct of individual Navy, Army and Air Force Institute canteens.