§ Mr. Gwilym Robertsasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will set out in the Official Report the detailed arrangements for the visit by 36 schoolboys to HMS "Hermes", including the period and purpose of the visit, the accommodation and welfare arrangements and duties, if any, to be undertaken by them; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. SpeedIt is a long standing, and very popular, Naval custom to offer passage to the young relatives of members of ship's companies. Normally the demands of school work, ships programmes and lack of space aboard restrict opportunities severely.
On this occasion the training deployment of HMS "Hermes" to the Western Atlantic with about 300 cadets, apprentices and junior ratings aboard, afforded scope for something more ambitious and I am glad that local education authorities have been able to co-operate with the Navy in making the most of it.
These boys, aged 12 and upwards are in HMS "Hermes" for about five weeks. Each has written permission from his headmaster who will have provided him generously with homework. There are set periods for study and qualified instructors are on hand to provide any help—or encouragement—that is necessary.
690WThe boys are accommodated in mess decks. There are good facilities for sport and entertainment and they are allowed to give a hand with the chores for anything up to three hours a day. That is of course very much part of the fun.
The boys' parents have to pay all expenses, covering principally return air fares, pocket money and victuals.
The purpose of this custom is simply to give pleasure to Naval families. If a boy is convinced that this really is the life for him and eventually decides to join the Service the Navy will be glad to run the rule over him. If not he will have had a holiday to remember and widen his horizon.