§ Dr. A. Thompsonasked the Secretary of State for Air what was the number of successful applicants for commissions in the period 1952–62; how many of these candidates were educated at independent public schools, direct grant schools, and state schools, respectively; and what percentage of the whole these numbers constitute, respectively.
§ Mr. H. FraserExcluding National Service officers, there were 17,932 successful applicants for commissions in the Royal Air Force during the years 1952–62 inclusive. I regret that I cannot give the information requested about the types of schools they attended. It could only be obtained by examining each officer's personal record which would be a lengthy and disproportionately expensive business. Information is however available about officer cadet-ships awarded during the period 1954–62 when out of a total of 1,214 cadetships, 492, or 40 per cent., went to boys from independent schools, 177, or 15 per cent. to boys from direct grant schools and 545, or 45 per cent., to boys from State schools.