§ 73. Commander Purseyasked the Secretary of State for Defence why an 94W Admiralty Press notice is not issued to the national Press before each entry of boys into the Royal Navy's orphanage at Holbrook, Suffolk, stating the requirements, stating what preference will be given to the orphans of naval ratings, and stating where applications should be sent.
§ Mr. J. P. W. MallalieuIt is not thought that any useful purpose would be served by a notice to the national Press. Entry to the Royal Hospital School is restricted to boys whose fathers have seafaring qualifications and publicity is therefore directed through the channels most likely to reach those who follow or who have followed a seafaring occupation.
§ 74. Commander Purseyasked the Secretary of State for Defence what requests he has made to the British Legion and Royal Naval Benevolent Trust to pay the fees charged to the widows of naval ratings for the education of their orphan sons at the Royal Navy's orphanage at Holbrook, Suffolk.
§ Mr. J. P. W. MallalieuNone.
§ Commander Purseyasked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the individual scales of fees for the 97 boys with local education authority assistance and the 137 boys without assistance, respectively, at the Royal Navy's orphanage, at Holbrook, Suffolk, paid by the father, or widowed mother, respectively, for the education of their sons; and what are the numbers of boys in each scale of fees.
§ Mr. J. P. W. MallalieuThe hon. and gallant Member is presumably referring to the Royal Hospital School at Holbrook. The fee is £100 per annum but no parent is asked to pay more than he or she can reasonably afford and each case is considered individually.
In the 97 cases in which parents pay the balance of the fee after allowing for local education authority grant, contributions are paid by fathers for 79 boys and by widowed mothers for the remaining 18 boys. The parental contributions range from £10 per annum to £98 for fathers and £4—£80 for widowed mothers.
In the 137 cases in which parents pay the full fee of £100 per annum without assistance, the fee is paid by the fathers for 136 boys and by a widowed mother in the remaining case.