§ Commander Purseyasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give the authority and date for appointing a board of governors for the Royal Hospital School, Holbrook, Suffolk; who are the present governors; by whom they were recommended and for what reasons; and what were the dates of their appointments, respectively.
§ Mr. J. P. W. MallalieuThe government of the Royal Hospital School, Holbrook was vested in the Admiralty by the Greenwich Hospital Act of 1865. By virtue of the Defence (Transfer of Functions) Act 1964 the functions of the Admiralty were transferred to the Secretary of State for Defence but under delegated powers Greenwich Hospital continue to be administered in all respects by the Admiralty Board (the statement made in the House by the Civil Lord of the Admiralty on 21st November, 1963, 235W HANSARD Column 1315 refers). An Advisory Committee was first appointed by the Board of Admiralty in 1937. Later the title "Committee of Management" was adopted and the composition and present membership is as shown below (dates of appointment being given in brackets):
Under Secretary of State (R.N.)—Mr. J. P. W. Mallalieu, M.P. (Chairman since 1964, previously member since 1950).Director of Greenwich Hospital—Mr. P. S. Newell, C.B. (Vice-Chairman, 1964).One M.P. from Government Party—Mr. M. MacPherson, M.B.E., M.P. (1965).One M.P. from Opposition—Commander Sir John Maitland, R.N. (Retd.), D.L. M.P. (1947).Two Education Officers or other appropriate Educationalists—Mr. J. H. Aldam, M.C., M.A., Chief Education Officer, East Suffolk (1962) and Mr. L. R. Missen, C.M.G., M.C., M.A. (Former Chief Education Officer, East Suffolk) (1937).The Chaplain of the Fleet—The Venerable Archdeacon R. W. Richardson, C.B., Q.H.C., M.A. (1963).The Director of the Naval Education Service—Instructor Rear Admiral Sir C. Darlington, K.B.E. (1960).Naval Officer (representative of Naval Training or Naval Manpower Department—Rear Admiral T. H. Maxwell, D.S.C. (1965).Any member of the Admiralty Board attending a meeting of the Committee ranks as a full member of the Committee.Members of the Committee are chosen on the basis that, by virtue of their office and their experience, they are in a position to supply helpful guidance for the School and its affairs.
§ Commander Purseyasked the Secretary of State for Defence what information is sent to all directors of education about the facilities at the Royal Hospital School, Holbrook, Suffolk; whether Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are included; what was the date of the last circular; whether it stated that orphans receive first consideration and gave the date for applications; and whether he will place copies in the Library.
§ Mr. J. P. W. MallalieuAll Directors of Education in England and Wales are sent copies of the School brochure, copies of which I am arranging to send to the Library. The last circulation was in September, 1964.
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§ Commander Purseyasked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will give the dates and places of the meetings of ratings at Portsmouth and Plymouth, respectively, recently addressed by the headmaster of the Royal Hospital School, Holbrook, Suffolk, and members of his staff, on the facilities of the school; and whether the fact that orphans receive first consideration was stressed;
(2) whether, during the recent visits of the headmaster of the Royal Hospital School, Holbrook, Suffolk, and members of his staff to Portsmouth and Plymouth, the local branches of the Royal Naval Association and the Royal Naval Benevolent Trust were addressed on the facilities of the school, including the fact that first consideration is given to orphans; and whether he will arrange such meetings.
§ Mr. J. P. W. MallalieuThe headmaster and his staff visited Plymouth from 25th-28th February, 1964, and Portsmouth from 25th-29th May, 1965. The audiences totalled 437 at Plymouth and 744 at Portsmouth, including representatives of organised bodies.
The fact that orphans receive first consideration was stressed.
No specific invitation was issued to the Royal Naval Association, nor to the Royal Naval Benevolent Trust but a representative of the latter is known to have been present.
§ Commander Purseyasked the Secretary of State for Defence what Service welfare organisations are regularly circularised about the facilities at the Royal Hospital School, Holbrook, Suffolk; what was the date of the last circular; whether it stated that orphans would receive first consideration and gave the date for applications; and whether he will place copies in the Library.
§ Mr. J. P. W. MallalieuContact with most Service welfare organisations does not have to be maintained by circular letter. Details of the Royal Hospital School and of all other benefits dispensed by Greenwich Hospital have become well known to the larger organisations and the Hospital is in very frequent contact with the Royal Naval Benevolent Trust and the Soldiers', Sailors' and Airmen's Families Association. It is indebted to both of these organisations for their 237W services in providing a personal link between the Hospital and applicants for all kinds of assistance from the Hospital's funds. In 1963 copies of the School Brochure were sent to the Ships' Welfare Committees of all of Her Majesty's Ships and Shore Establishments. Statements issued by Greenwich Hospital about the Royal Hospital School invariably include a passage stating that preference is given to orphans.
§ Commander Purseyasked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the date of the last information supplied to "Navy News", "Ashore and Afloat", "The Navy" and the Soldiers', Sailors' and Airmen's Families Association magazine, respectively, about the Royal Hospital School, Holbrook, Suffolk; whether this circular stated that orphans receive first consideration and gave the date for applications; and whether he will place copies in the Library.
§ Mr. J. P. W. MallalieuFull length illustrated articles about the Royal Hospital School appeared in the publications mentioned below on the given dates. Each article contained a passage stating the age at which application should be made for entry to the School and referred to the preference given to orphans.
Soldiers', Sailors' and Airmen's Families Association Magazine—January 1964.Ashore and Afloat"—November 1964The Navy"—May 1965.I understand that the Library already receives regular copies of "The Navy" and the S.S.A.F.A. Magazine. I am arranging for copies of the November 1964 issue of "Ashore and Afloat" to be placed there.
News items about the School normally appear each term in "Navy News".
§ Commander Purseyasked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the number of grants, in the current year, made from the Naval Education Allowance fund for the sons of officers and ratings, respectively, and for the sons of officers' widows and ratings' widows, respectively, at the Royal Hospital School, Holbrook, Suffolk, together with the amounts.
§ Mr. J. P. W. MallalieuThe number of education allowances paid to serving officers and ratings in respect of their sons at the Royal Hospital School, Holbrook, Suffolk, is not readily available. However, during the spring term this year238W there were 120 serving officers' sons and 185 serving ratings' sons at the School. It seems reasonable to assume that most, if not all, are in receipt of the education allowance. This is related to the fees and would amount to £100 per annum.
The Naval Education Allowance is not payable to officers' or ratings' widows.
§ Commander Purseyasked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the sons of the 2,000 ratings of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Service are eligible for entry into the Royal Hospital School, Holbrook, Suffolk; how many entered in the 20 years since the war; and what action is taken to inform these ratings of the facilities at the school, particularly for orphans, and the date for application.
§ Mr. J. P. W. MallalieuAs my hon. and gallant Friend is aware, admission to the Royal Hospital School is open to the sons of seafaring men.
Ships of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary receive copies of Defence Council Instructions (R.N.). These promulgate full information about the Royal Hospital School.
I am afraid that to supply the figure requested by my hon. and gallant Friend would involve a disproportionate amount of research.