§ Mr. MILLSasked the Minister of Agriculture if boys are being employed on the Ordnance Survey purely with a view to enlistment at 18 years of age into the Royal Engineers; whether their parents or guardians are compelled to sign an undertaking to that effect prior to the boys' employment; whether the employment actually consists of a preparatory training to qualify the boys as tradesmen for the Royal Engineers, and that a portion of their working hours is employed on strictly military drill and training; and, if so, why the cost of such training is defrayed out of moneys voted by Parliament on account of Civil Services?
Sir A. BOSCAWENIt is the custom to train boys on ordnance survey work for eventual enlistment in survey companies of the Royal Engineers. No boy is taken unless his parent or guardian expresses his willingness in writing, but there is no compulsion in the matter; the training consists essentially in learning branches of survey work to qualify them for ordnance survey. It is not the case that these boys go through strictly mili- 261W tary drill and training, though they have two hours a week on physical exercise to keep them fit. The technical training fits the boys to become efficient surveyors, and is a necessary function of the Ordnance Survey Department.