asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science to what extent the Army is able to draw on those of school age, through arrangements with the schools concerned, to give pupils experience of Army exercises; and if any limit is imposed on the number of working hours per day when such courses are arranged.
Pupils in their last year of compulsory school age may sample Army life through arrangements approved by the local education authority under the Education (Work Experience) Act 1973. Subject to any limitations a local education authority may impose as a condition of approval and to the general Army instruction that no night exercise shall continue after midnight, working hours are at the discretion of the district commander. I understand that the average working day, including time for sport and physical education, is about nine and half hours.