58.
asked the President of the Board of Education whether, in view of the increased demand throughout the country for instruction in handicraft and domestic economy, and the tendency of local education authorities to construct buildings for these purposes of creosoted timber, corrugated iron, match-boarding, and other inexpensive materials, the Board can supply authorities with model plans and elevations of such buildings, and advice as to their construction and materials?
The Board are always ready to place at the disposal of local authorities all the information they have in regard to materials and buildings suitable for classes in special subjects. Experiment and development in the use of quasi-permanent material and the internal arrangement of the buildings are to be encouraged. The issue of model plans and specifications would, my right hon. Friend is afraid, tend to stereotype one particular kind of building, and would, therefore, be undesirable.
The hon. Gentleman has not quite answered my question; it was as to any information of this sort that the Board could supply to the Local Education Authorities.
Yes, certainly, if personal application is made.