HC Deb 02 July 1965 vol 715 cc134-7W
Captain Kerby

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, how many casualties, killed, missing believed dead, and missing, respectively, have been suffered in the last six months by Her Majesty's forces in the operational area of Borneo; and if he will give the figures under service headings.

Mr. Healey

Casualties incurred in battle or through accidents in the operational area of Borneo between 1st January and 29th June, 1965, were:

Institution, mercantile marine charities and sailors orphanages are informed of the dates of applications for entry into the Royal Hospital School, Holbrook, Suffolk; and whether they will be so informed in future.

Mr. J. P. W. Mallalieu

Parents are advised to make application for admission when their sons reach the age of 10. Applications are then allotted to the appropriate entry according to age.

The age limit for orphans is extended, and they may be admitted at any time.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to my Answer to the Member for Sudbury and Woodbridge (Mr. Stainton) on 28th June and my Answer to the hon. and gallant Member himself on 30th June.

I am considering whether further information about the School could usefully be promulgated to Mercantile Marine parents through channels other than the Local Education Authorities.

Commander Pursey

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Royal Hospital School, Holbrook, Suffolk, receives the full fees charged for the education of ratings' sons, particularly orphans, from the local education authorities at Portsmouth, Devonport, Chatham, Liverpool, Hull and Southampton, respectively; or whether parents, particularly widows, living in these areas themselves pay the £100 fees or part of them.

Mr. J. P. W. Mallalieu

Full fees are being paid by local education authorities in respect of orphans from the areas specified in all but five cases—four at Chatham and one at Liverpool—where the local education authority pay part and the parent etc remainder.

Commander Pursey

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total amount of money spent on the Royal Hospital School, Holbrook, Suffolk, to date; and how much has been received from Greenwich Hospital funds, Reade funds, Naval Prize Funds and other sources, respectively.

Mr. P. W. Mallalieu

Details of the annual income and expenditure of the Hospital, including details of expenditure related to the Royal Hospital School, are to be found in the statements of Greenwich Hospital and Travers Foundation Accounts presented to the House annually.

As regards the Reade Foundation, the income therefrom is merged into the Greenwich Hospital General Income Account, and no portion is specifically earmarked for the Royal Hospital School.

Commander Pursey

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the properties and the amount of land now occupied or leased by the Royal Hospital School, Holbrook, Suffolk, which were presented or bequeathed by the late Mr. G. S. Reade; and what are the current values.

Mr. J. P. W. Mallalieu

Greenwich Hospital's Holbrook Estate extends to some 890 acres (850 acres given by Mr. G. S. Reade and 40 acres purchased since). Approximately 150 acres are occupied by the Royal Hospital School and its playing fields, etc. The remaining area comprising two farms, houses, cottages, allotments and woodlands produces an income of approximately £1,775 per annum.

Commander Pursey

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what was the total amount of money and other assets presented or bequeathed by the late Mr. G. S. Reade to Greenwich Hospital, for the Royal Hospital School, Holbrook, Suffolk; how much has been spent on the school; what is the present capital and current annual income of the various Reade funds; and of this latter sum what amount is allocated to the School;

(2) what are the present allocations and the amounts of monies from the Reade funds presented to Greenwich Hospital.

Mr. J. P. W. Mallalieu

Mr. Reade conveyed his Holbrook Estate to Greenwich Hospital by Deed of Gift in 1921. The gross receipts from the Estate in 1922–23 were £1,204 4s. 8d. the following further assets were transferred from the G. S. Reade Will Trust in 1946:

Nominal Amount
£
409,100 3 per cent. Savings Bonds 1955–65
111,750 3 per cent. Savings Bonds 1960–70
12,500 3 per cent. Savings Bonds 1965–75
£533,350

For further details, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to House of Commons Paper No. 163 "Greenwich Hospital and Travers Foundation Accounts 1963–64" which contains, on page 5 the last published details of the assets held on behalf of the Reade Foundation and Reade Accumulation Fund respectively. Amplifying notes appear on page 12 of the Paper. Details of the income derived from each of these Funds are given on pages 6 and 2 of the Paper, respectively. There is in addition an Annuity Fund which is in the charge of the Reade Trustees. This latter Fund now consists of £37,680 (nominal) of 3½ per cent. Funding Stock 1999–2004.

The income from the Reade Foundation is merged in the Greenwich Hospital General Income Account and no portion is specifically earmarked for the Royal Hospital School.

Commander Pursey

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will take steps to ascertain the number of officers of the rank of commander and captain, respectively, who have sons at the Royal Hospital School, Holbrook, Suffolk, and the amount of fees in each case paid by the naval education allowance, the local education authority and the officer himself.

Mr. J. P. W. Mallalieu

No. The rank of the officer is not relevant for the purpose of considering applications or collecting fees.

Commander Pursey

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many officers, officers' widows, ratings, and ratings' widows, respectively, with sons at the Royal Hospital School, Holbrook, Suffolk, are included in the 137 parents without assistance with the payment of fees.

Mr. J. P. W. Mallalieu

Officers 63
Officers' Widows 1
Ratings 73
Ratings' Widows Nil

Commander Pursey

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the number of ratings' sons, and how many were orphans, who were refused admission into the Royal Hospital School, Holbrook, Suffolk, during each of the last five years; and what were the reasons.

Mr. J. P. W. Mallalieu

The number of ratings' sons who failed to gain admission to the Royal Hospital School during the last school year was 81. None was an orphan. Statistics for earlier years are not readily available.