§ Mr. Wallasked the Minister of Defence whether he will make a statement on the future of the Combined Cadet Force.
§ Mr. ThorneycroftUnder long-standing arrangements the Combined Cadet Force contingents are run by the schools themselves but they receive financial and administrative support from the Service Departments. I have reviewed these arrangements in consultation with the Service Ministers and representative headmasters, to ensure that the aims and organisation of the Combined Cadet Force are brought into line with present-day conditions and make an effective contribution to youth training.
The Charter of the Combined Cadet Force will be amended so as to make it clear that the function of the C.C.F. will be to provide the framework of a disciplined organisation within which qualities of leadership and a sense of public service can be developed and that 98W the specific function of the Service training in the programme of the C.C.F. is to contribute to this aim and at the same time to provide a background knowledge of Service methods with the intention of encouraging those boys who have a special interest in a Service career to become officers in the Regular, Territorial, and Reserve Forces; or to serve in civil organisations of national importance.
It is intended that for the future the minimum age of volunteers for the C.C.F. should be 14 and that the normal period of training should be three years. The effect of this will be to concentrate available resources or what are expected to be more efficient and, in the case of the Army, smaller contingents.
The success of these arrangements depends to a very great extent on the co-operation of headmasters and they will shortly be receiving a memorandum setting out the details of what is proposed.