asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty for what reason training establishments have been omitted from the arrangement to hold chaplain's hours in all naval ships and some shore bases.

Mr. Dugdale:

Boys', artificers' and other initial training establishments are omitted from the arrangement because they already have other facilities for religious instruction. In technical training establishments syllabuses are so tightly compressed that time for chaplains' hours could not be made available without increasing training periods.

Can my hon. Friend say what are the religious facilities he has mentioned?

Mr. Dugdale:

Certainly. As regards new entry training establishments there is religious instruction of one hour weekly on a compulsory basis for personnel under the age of 18 but on a voluntary basis in the case of those over that age. The instruction is given by the chaplain of the appropriate denomination.