asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is his assessment of the reasons why 17 per cent. of Royal Air Force officers, commissioned between April 1975 and March 1979, 28 per cent. of Royal Navy officers accepted between January and August 1978, and 55 per cent. of Army officers accepted in 1977–78, came from public schools.

The Services do not draw any distinction whatsoever between applicants from the State and independent sectors. Applications for commissions are encouraged from suitable candidates from schools of all types and acceptance depends entirely on their ability to meet the high standards of an officer.