§ Major COPEasked the Minister of Labour why, in relation to the Government training scheme for ex-officers and men, grants for the training of accountants are confined to the Institute of Chartered Accountants or the Society of Incorporated Accountants and Auditors; and whether, as these two branches have no monopoly of the profession, he will consider the advisability of including other reputable societies for this purpose?
§ Sir ROBERT HORNEI would refer the hen. and gallant Member to an answer given to the hon. Member for South Paddington on 10th July last, in which it was stated that the Government Training Scheme for ex-officers and men of similar education was intended to restore the supply of men of higher professional and business attainments. It is necessary therefore that the nature of the professional qualifications which will result from the expenditure of public monies under the scheme should be subjected to close scrutiny. As the Institute of Chartered Accountants and the Society of Incorporated Accountants and Auditors have in the past been recognised by Parliamentary Committees as conferring the highest qualifications within die profession of Accountancy, these are the only institutions whose examinations are recognised for the purpose of grants for training in accountancy. The Ministry as at present advised do not consider it desirable to alter this decision.