asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what arrangements are being made in respect of both seniority and fees for cadets who will now have to remain an extra term at Dartmouth.

Mr. Duģdale:

As regard seniority, no alterations are contemplated in the present rules for gaining time on the result of the cadet, midshipman and sub-lieutenants courses. As regards fees, from September, 1948, the cadets will be brought under the same financial arrangements as those who are to be entered at the age of 16. There will be no fees for tuition and board and lodging. The Admiralty will take over the supply of all further uniform and other clothing required by the cadets up to the training cruiser stage, and will meet their personal expenses at the college and in the training cruiser. The cost of these items will be recovered from the parents according to their income, by payments spread over the remainder of the cadet training period. Where necessary, this charge will be adjusted to ensure that the extra term does not involve parents in any additional expenditure.

With regard to seniority, I do not understand what the Parliamentary Secretary means by saying that there will be no loss. Does it mean the cadet will be dated at the beginning of the term or at the end, otherwise he will be losing three or four months?

Mr. Duģdale:

As the hon. and gallant Member knows, it is possible for a young officer to gain as much as 16 months seniority. The average gain is, in fact, nine months, and the average will be increased by the fact that these boys will remain longer at Dartmouth.

Suppose he does not gain any seniority. He will then lose three months.

Mr. Duģdale:

He might in that case.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty why Dartmouth cadets do not receive railway-warrants for sick-leave and survey.

Mr. Duģdale:

Dartmouth cadets do not receive naval pay and hence do not acquire naval status until they pass out of the college and are appointed to sea. Until that stage is reached, ordinary fee-paying cadets are not entitled, under the present financial arrangements, to travel at public expense, either on ordinary leave or on sick leave, any more than they would be if they were attending any other school. In the case of scholars, the fees charged are inclusive of travelling expenses to and from the College.

As from September, 1948, when fees for tuition and board and lodging will be abolished for all cadets, the inclusive charges which parents will be required to pay, according to their income, for uniform and other clothing and miscellaneous expenses of the cadets will cover all travelling expenses to and from the college. Parents whose incomes are so low that they cannot afford to pay these charges will, in future, be relieved of them.

At the present time, if the cadet is told to report for survey, I understand that he does not get a railway warrant?

Mr. Duģdale:

That has been the practice up to now, but, as I have said, one of the advantages of the new Dartmouth scheme will be that that practice will be altered.