§ Sir R. Youngasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has seen the letter to parents of artificer apprentices issued by the Engineer Captain of the Mechanical Training Establishment, Devonport, indicating a restriction or curtailment of the evening freedom of the apprentices; why this is now considered necessary; and what the suggested new arrangements are and mean?
§ Sir V. WarrenderThe object of the letter referred to by the hon. Member was to explain to parents of apprentices that owing to the new location of the Mechanical Training Establishment, access to the neighbouring city would be more difficult. It pointed out that in the interests of the health of the apprentices it is not intended to increase the length of short leave periods, except occasionally at week-ends, to compensate for the extra time taken to get to town, since to do so would make undesirable inroads into the hours of rest. That these arrangements are regarded as reasonable is shown by the fact that the officer in charge of this establishment has received numerous letters from parents thanking him for the interest he is taking in the well-being of their sons.