HC Deb 18 November 1947 vol 444 cc155-6W
80. Mr. Peter Freeman

asked the Secretary of State for War what classes are at present being conducted by the Army Educational Corps; whether it is his intention to extend these facilities; whether they are compulsory and what proportions attend.

Mr. M. Stewart

The Royal Army Education Corps administers classes in units and at Army Educational Centres; also correspondence courses, full-time courses organised by Commands, and residential courses of a month's duration at Army Colleges. These classes and courses cover a very wide variety of subjects. It is intended that an interim education scheme based on postwar plans should shortly replace the release period scheme at present in operation. Some of the classes now held are compulsory and others voluntary. It is estimated that during September, the latest month for which information is available, about live-sixths of the Army were attending one or more compulsory classes a week in training or working time. Statistics are not readily available of the proportion making use of the voluntary facilities.