HC Deb 25 February 1947 vol 433 cc275-6W
Mr. King

asked the Under-Secretary or State for India what prospects of admission were held out to Indian Army cadets who joined at Caterham last summer; how long they have been doing elementary infantry training at Caterham and how long it is proposed they should continue to do so; what prospects they now have of a W.O.S.B.; what is the maximum length of time any one cadet whose efficiency is unquestioned has remained a cadet at Caterham; and whether he is satisfied that hopes held out to these cadets have been fulfilled.

Mr. A. Henderson

No cadets admitted to the Indian Army Cadet Wing last summer were promised that they would be commissioned into the Indian Army. The period of training at Caterham lasts five to six months, with a maximum period of training of six months except in those cases where cadets have been held back for military or physical inefficiency. All candidates have a prospect of going before a War Office Selection Board, and any delay which occurs after passing the War Office Selection Board is due to the difficulty of finding room for them in 0.C.T.Us. None of the cadets had grounds for thinking that they would be commissioned into the Indian Army. The decision that they could not be sent 'o India for O.C.T.U. training before being commissioned in the British Service was due to a change in the policy of the Government of India, regarding 0.C.T.0 training generally

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