§ Mr. Cormackasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether, in view of the difficulty experienced in attracting young men into the Merchant Navy as officer cadets, he will give further consideration to safeguarding the future of HMS "Conway".
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§ Mr. ArmstrongNo. Proposals by Cheshire local education authority to cease to maintain HMS "Conway" were approved in October 1973. The question of recruitment of Merchant Navy officer cadets is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade.
As my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Trade declared to the hon. Member on 8th April—[Vol. 872, c. 1819.]—HMS "Conway" has recently provided only 20 cadets a year for the Merchant Navy and training for the Merchant Navy can now be provided more readily elsewhere.