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Education

Volume 483: debated on Thursday 8 February 1951

The text on this page has been created from Hansard archive content, it may contain typographical errors.

Grammar School, Erith

21.

asked the Minister of Education if the request of the North-West Kent Divisional Executive for 60 places for girls at the new grammar school accommodation at The Oaks, Erith, by August, 1951; has received the necessary approval.

No formal proposal has yet reached me, but I understand that the local education authority propose to submit one shortly.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the information he has given will cause great satisfaction in a district which feels that it is not getting a square deal in the matter of grammar school accommodation?

Dentists

22.

asked the Minister of Education if he is yet in a position to make a statement regarding salaries for school dental officers; or what steps he proposes to take to bring the present negotiations to a conclusion without further delay.

I understand that at their meeting on 31st January last, the Dental Whitley Council reached a substantial measure of agreement and that they hope to make an announcement as soon as a number of associated details have been settled.

As, in building up the health of the nation, the school dental service developed under successive Conservative Governments played an important and vital role, is not it high time that a decision was reached on this matter?

That is why I am most anxious that the Council should be allowed to get on with it.

37.

asked the Minister of Education whether dentists employed by local education authorities are permitted to indulge in private practice.

This is a matter for the local education authority, and I have no information as to the extent to which school dental officers also undertake private practice.

Would it be possible to get more information about the recommendation from the Kent Education Committee, because it would be interesting to know whether their example is being widely followed throughout the country?

Scholarships (Examinations)

23.

asked the Minister of Education whether the first M.B. examination will be regarded as the equivalent of the Higher School Certificate by county education committees in considering awards for degree courses.

Mr. Tomlinson : It is within the discretion of local education authorities to award scholarships to candidates on the examination for the first M.B.. and a number of authorities do so.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give his own opinion about the relative merits of these two examinations?

As the educational requirements for this examination are quite as high as those for the Higher School Certificate examination, would not my right hon. Friend make representations to the authorities to treat their students on a more uniform basis?

The School and Higher School Certificate examinations were held for the last time last year. Those examinations will not be available this year.

Teachers' Allowances

24.

asked the Minister of Education whether he has yet received the recommendations of the Burnham Committee on the subject of the granting of London allowance to teachers working in schools within the Metropolitan Police district but not at present in receipt of this allowance.

The committee have proposed that a tribunal of independent persons should consider the question of "London Area" and territorial allowances and make recommendations. They have also recommended that the present provisions should, meanwhile. continue without change.

Students' Grants

25.

asked the Minister of Education what results have followed from his representations to local education authorities concerning the inequalities of the present grant system.

30.

asked the Minister of Education what progress he has so far made in inducing local education authorities to accept uniform standards for making grants to students at universities.

About 80 per cent. of the local education authorities have adopted, either wholly or in part, the standard figures of maintenance and financial principles set out in Administrative Memorandum No. 332, or have undertaken to do so for the academic year 1951–52.

While thanking the Minister for that encouraging reply, may I ask whether he can say when the other 20 per cent. of local authorities will come into line?

Would my right hon. Friend agree that the extent of a student grant should not depend upon the place of residence of the student, and that a student born in one area should not have his position prejudiced in relation to students of another area?

Will my right hon. Friend try to bring the other 20 per cent. into line by eliminating meanness and not by restricting generosity?

I have never restricted generosity in this matter; but I would point out that the autonomy of the local authorities is a consideration which must be kept in mind.

Can the right hon. Gentleman assure the House that, between the 80 per cent. of authorities who have adopted a uniform standard, there is something amounting to a system of reciprocity treaties, so that difficulties do not intervene when children, or their parents, are moved from one area to another in the middle of a course?

Teachers' Refresher Courses

26.

asked the Minister of Education whether he is aware of the varying policies of local education authorities with regard to financial assistance for teachers attending recognised refresher courses; and what action he proposes to take.

I attach importance to refresher courses, and hope that local education authorities will assist teachers to attend them, according to their need. The authorities are well aware of my attitude, and I pay grant on reasonable expenditure incurred in assisting teachers to attend courses. But such assistance is rightly left to the discretion of the authorities.

Will my right hon. Friend try to get the same result on this matter as that which he so successfully achieved in connection with the previous question?

The same people, with the Minister's assent, have drafted a circular appealing for the same response.

School Books And Stationery

27.

asked the Minister of Education whether, in view of the increased cost of school books and stationery, he will advise local education authorities to increase the expenditure allowance to schools.

No, Sir. I consider that the local education authorities can be relied upon to ensure a satisfactory supply of books and stationery to the schools.

Sub-Normal Children

28.

asked the Minister of Education what steps he proposes taking to provide adequate school space for mentally retarded children.

It is my policy to encourage local education authorities to make increased special school provision for educationally sub-normal children as quickly as possible within the limits of my resources.

Will the right hon. Gentleman get in touch with the appropriate authority and ask for a report on the conditions in the borough of Gillingham, which are very bad indeed? Will he endeavour to do something about it?

Can my right hon. Friend give an estimate of the number of children who are not mentally retarded for whom there is a lack of school places at present?

Village Schools

29.

asked the Minister of Education whether, in view of the many instances where children have long distances to go to school, and the detrimental effect on village community life, he will now reconsider the general policy of closing village schools.

I have laid down no such policy. Under Section 13 of the Education Act, 1944, a proposal by a local education authority to cease to maintain a school involves the issue of public notices, with the possibility of an appeal to me. I should not approve any such proposal unless, after considering all the circumstances, and, in particular, the best interests of the children, I was satisfied that the proposal was justified.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that, in rural areas like the East Riding of Yorkshire, where a large number of village schools have been closed, it is not only the distance that children have to travel to new schools but a question of the danger from the traffic on country roads where there are no footpaths? Will he also bear in mind the position of Low Cattan, about which I have sent him some particulars and about which I propose to send him further information?

All these things are taken into consideration as and when a decision is taken. I would point out to the hon. Member that, in the case of the school he has mentioned, and particulars of which he sent me, and which was closed in 1928, a good deal of revision would be needed before I altered my opinion in that connection.

School Children (Half Fares)

31.

asked the Minister of Education if he will consult with the authorities concerned, with a view to arranging to raise the half-fare privilege on all public transport for children up to 15 years of age on educational journeys.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Hastings (Mr. Cooper-Key) on 27th July last.

I have not seen that reply. Does it extend to school children, not only on educational journeys, but other journeys, provided that they are under the age of 15?

School Punishment, Flixton

32.

asked the Minister of Education whether his attention has been called to the case of Mr. P. I. Crashley, of Flixton, who caned the whole class of 32 children because he was unable to discover who was the author of a childish misdemeanour; whether such punishment is in accordance with the regulations approved by him; and what steps he is taking to prevent a recurrence of such an incident.

I have seen reports of this incident in the Press. Regulations about corporal punishment are made by local education and school authorities, and are not subject to my approval. I see no reason to intervene in this matter.

Does my right hon. Friend consider that a sense of British justice is being inculcated in this school, when one man, constituting himself judge, jury and executioner, punishes 31 innocent children in a way that is prohibited in the case of grown-ups, without censure and without reprimand?

Was this gentleman under the impression that he was carrying out the Socialist policy of fair shares for all?

Will my right hon. Friend, without seeking to intervene in matters that are properly the concern of the local educational authority, see whether the facts do not disclose a case for inquiry as to whether this gentleman is fit to have anything to do with school children?

Displaced Pupils (Grants)

34.

asked the Minister of Education if he is prepared to consider the enlargement of the scope of Section 104 (2 a) of the Education Act, 1944, so as to include pupils whose parents have been compulsorily removed from their former homes owing to demolition of property due to war damage, slum clearance or other action outside their control.

This would involve an amendment of the provision of the 1944 Act relating to voluntary schools, and raises issues which cannot be dealt with in the scope of a Question and answer.

Teachers' Salaries

35.

asked the Minister of Education when he proposes officially to inform the House of his attitude towards the Burnham Committee's report and of his proposals for its implementation.

I have informed the Chairman of the Burnham Committee that the new salary scales recommended for teachers in primary and secondary schools, as submitted to me in an outline statement, are such as I shall be able to approve. Final approval of the scales and arrangements for their implementation must await the submission of the proposals in detail.

Will the Minister assure the House that he appreciates the importance of taking every opportunity to explain to people the reasons why the rising costs of education are necessary and inevitable? Does he not realise the anxiety which these rising costs have evoked, and the importance of retaining the good will of ratepayers and local authorities?

I will read that supplementary question in HANSARD tomorrow, and consider it.

School, Balham (Traffic)

36.

asked the Minister of Education whether he is aware of the traffic dangers to children when leaving the Cavendish Road School, Balham: and if he will cause inquiries to be made with a view to crush barriers being erected outside the school entrance which will prevent children risking injury by dashing across the road when leaving school.

I am informed by the local education authority that there is police supervision for children attending the school who need to cross Cavendish Road, and that all children leave the school by entrances in Hydthorpe Road, where the volume of traffic is not at present such as would justify special supervision or the erection of crush barriers.

Would the Minister have another look at this matter, because I think his information is not quite full enough? Hydthorpe Road is a dangerous road and—[HON. MEMBERS: "Speech."] Would it not be better to try to prevent possible danger to children in this district, rather than wait until someone is seriously injured?

The London County Council can put up these crush barriers without my approval, and I prefer to leave this problem to the local education authorities.

Scientific Equipment

38.

asked the Minister of Education whether he is aware of the grave shortage of scientific equipment in many schools, as a result of which pupils are hindered in their examination work; and what steps he is taking to remedy this defect.

I am not aware of any general shortage of scientific equipment, though long delivery periods are quoted for some items.

Has the attention of the right hon. Gentleman been called to a report of the Cambridge University Examination Syndicate, a body of some authority, which is very much alarmed about this problem?

Technological Education

39.

asked the Minister of Education if he has any further statement to make on the future development of higher technological education.

I have nothing to add to the answer which I gave on 25th January to the hon. Member for Devizes (Mr. Hollis):

Is the Minister not aware that higher technological education is a factor in the rearmament programme? Would it not be a good idea to press this matter a little more?

Yes, but in the foreword to the report published about this question I promised to give consideration to the recommendations that were made, and also to the comments of people who were asked to make observations upon them.