§ Mr. GOLDSTONEasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he will state how many Army schoolmasters now serving have applied for commissions; and why none of this particular class of warrant officer has been granted His Majesty's commission?
1980W
§ Mr. TENNANTEighty-three Army schoolmasters have applied for commissions. I stated in my reply to the hon. Member on 12th July that the educational necessities of the Army must be safeguarded. The object of giving commissions from the ranks is to obtain officers provided with the requisite military knowledge to become leaders of men, but the training the Army schoolmasters have had is not in this direction.
§ Mr. GOLDSTONEasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the desire of Army schoolmasters to join the combatant ranks, he will arrange for the services of pensioned Army schoolmasters and serving Army schoolmistresses to be utilised so as to free a number of schoolmasters holding warrant rank for service in the combatant ranks?
§ Mr. TENNANTOwing to the rank they hold, Army schoolmasters would only be eligible for the highest combatant warrant ranks, for which their training as Army schoolmasters does not suit them.