Mr. E. P. Smithasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he is aware that the withdrawal from the Navy on 1st January, 1948, was requested of a number of second-cruise cadets of H.M.S. "Devonshire" after they had spent months in training and their parents had laid out large sums of money on their uniforms and equipment; how many were involved; what were the corresponding numbers on the last six occasions; and what were the reasons given for their withdrawal.
Mr. DugdaleIt is clearly laid down in the Regulations that during the period of cadet service a cadet is on probation and that he may be required to he withdrawn at any time during this period if in the opinion of the Admiralty he fails to reach a satisfactory standard or he is considered unsuitable for the Naval Service. The following statement shows the number of cadets in H.M.S. "Devonshire" whose parents have been requested to withdraw them:
Cruise ending No. withdrawn December, 1947 … … 6 August, 1947 … … 6 April, 1947 … … 4 December, 1946 … … 2 August, 1946 … … — April, 1946 … … 3 August, 1945 … … — Withdrawal in these cases was requested for either or both of the two reasons stated above. It is desired to emphasise that withdrawal is never requested unless a parent has been previously warned that 61W his son was unlikely to make a satisfactory Naval officer. Needless to say, the decision in individual cases is reached only after the most careful consideration and with great regret.