§ 149. Mr. Kingasked the Secretary of State for War if he will make a statement on the training given to conscripts in the Intelligence Corps during the last seven months; and if he is satisfied that both training programmes and prospects of promotion are suitable to those who enlist in that arm of the Service, having regard to the intellectual abilities of most members of it.
§ Mr. BellengerMen are not enlisted direct into the Intelligence Corps. The recruit first goes to a primary training centre in the same way as any other recruit. While there he may volunteer to join the Intelligence Corps or be provisionally selected for it by the personnel selection officer, on account of his linguistic or other special qualifications. Potential candidates for the Intelligence Corps are interviewed at the War Office, only volunteers being finally selected. After an average period of three months' primary and basic Infantry training, followed by three months specialist training at Intelligence training establishments, recruits are posted to regimental duty, the majority proceeding overseas, where they normally fill vacancies carrying the rank of corporal. Promotion to sergeant and warrant officer Class II compares favourably with promotion in any other arm, and in certain units up to86W three-quarters of the rank and file may be sergeants or above.
Conscripts who are graded as potential officers are given an opportunity to appear before a War Office Selection Board during their training. Commissions in the Intelligence Corps itself are, however, not normally granted until a candidate has spent six months at regimental duty. In addition to basic military and Intelligence training, the programme includes a wide range of general subjects suited to the intellectual standard of the recruit. I am satisfied that both training and prospects of promotion are well suited to the type of man recruited during the last seven months.