§ Mr. S. Marshallasked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the decreasing number of boys joining the Army cadets and the A.T.C., some early pronouncement will be made as to the place these organisations are to occupy in encouraging boys to become proficient by preliminary training for the Army or the R.A.F.; and whether service in either of these units may be taken into consideration when finally fixing the period of compulsory training for youths in the Services.
§ Mr. LawsonAs I stated on 9th October, in reply to a Question by the hon. and gallant Member for Lewes (Major Beamish), I have no reason to anticipate any fundamental change of policy in regard to the pre-serve cadet organisations, and postwar planning is proceeding in the expectation that they will continue to be maintained, on a voluntary basis, now that the war is over. I cannot make any further statement at the moment. 2491W Their scope and functions must necessarily depend on the organisation of the postwar Forces generally, and these questions are now under active consideration on an inter-Service basis.