HC Deb 08 May 1963 vol 677 cc64-5W
68 and 69. Mr. G. Thomas

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) how many soldiers, other than those educated in a public school, have been granted commissions in the Welsh Guards during the past 10 years; and whether he will make a statement;

(2) what steps he is taking to broaden the basis on which selection of commissioned officers for the Welsh Guards is made.

Mr. Profumo

With the exception of four officers who were granted commissions of the quartermaster category, all officers commissioned in the Welsh Guards in the last ten years were educated at public schools.

The basis of selection for commissions is already broad enough to allow all candidates to be considered.

Mr. G. Thomas

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the basis on which selection is made for commissions in the Welsh Guards; and what was the educational background of the interviewing board of officers who have recommended the appointments during the past two years.

Mr. Profumo

Applications for commissions in the Welsh Guards are first considered by the representative of the Brigade of Guards at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, or by the Commissioning Advisory Board at the Officer Cadet School, Mons. The final decision is made by the Regimental Lieutenant-Colonel of the Welsh Guards: this is in accordance with the normal procedure by which applications for commissions in the infantry as a whole are subject to the approval of the Colonel of the Regiment or the Regimental Lieutenant-Colonel concerned.

Of the four officers composing the Mons Commissioning Advisory Board in the last two years, three were educated at public schools and one at a grammar school.