§ 66. Mr. Mitchisonasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that 22759007 Officer Cadet Michael Sharman, completed his infantry training and a special course in Russian at Cambridge, became an officer cadet, signed 5W on for a third year of service, proceeded to the Joint Services School of Linguists at Bodmin, where he now is, and was told shortly before his final examination that he could not appear before the War Office Selection Board for a commission because of a defect in his eyesight, which was known before his entry on National Service and had caused him to be medically graded; and whether, in view of the waste of public money involved in special training, over a long period to no purpose and in view of the hardship to a diligent and successful student, he will now allow this officer cadet to be considered for a commission.
§ Mr. F. MacleanOfficer Cadet Sharman was accepted for training as a Russian linguist in the knowledge that he was ineligible for a commission. His knowledge of Russian will be of value in the Intelligence Corps, where there will be a vacancy for him as an other rank. There is, therefore, no question of this training and public money having been wasted.