School Uniforms (Grants)
1.
asked the Minister of Education whether, in view of the increased costs of school uniforms, he will now revise the terms of Circular 210, concerning grants by his Department to local education authorities, which gives assistance in the purchasing of school uniforms.
I see no reason to add to the addendum to Circular 210 issued last summer, a copy of which I am sending to the hon. Member. In this I undertook to recognise for grant local education authorities' expenditure on assisting parents to provide school uniforms for girls to the minimum extent considered essential, and for boys to the extent of a cap and badge.
Teachers (Superannuation)
2.
asked the Minister of Education the result of his re-examination into the question whether interest is to be charged after 1st April, 1951, on teachers' late contributions for war service under the Teachers' Superannuation (War Service) Act, 1939.
I am sending the hon. Member a copy of a new statutory rule which fulfils the terms of my reply to him on 23rd November last. As the hon. Member will see, the interest charged on late contributions has been waived until 1st April next, and the rate of interest has been reduced.
In view of the fact that the interest is a very small sum comparatively and that the teachers were not warned that they were to be asked to pay the interest on these contributions, might it not be a graceful act to forgo all interest?
If the hon. Member will wait until he has read the copy, I think he will be reasonably satisfied.
Independent Schools
3.
asked the Minister of Education how many of the fee-paying independent schools which have been inspected to date have been found to be inefficient.
I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave on 14th December last to my hon. Friend the Member for Rugby (Mr. J. Johnson), to which I have nothing to add.
Technological Education
4.
asked the Minister of Education what steps he proposes to take to give effect to the recommendations of the Report of the National Advisory Council on the Future Development of Higher Technological Education.
I am not yet able to add anything to the reply which I gave on 25th January to the hon. Member for Devizes (Mr. Hollis).
Is my right hon. Friend disposed to regard favourably the recommendation that a Royal College of Technology should be instituted, with power to grant awards?
I have undertaken to consider all representations that are made to me since the Report was printed, but I think it would be unfair to the House to say that I was favourably disposed towards the Report until I have seen the representations that are made.
School Building Programme
5.
asked the Minister of Education what amount of school building has been sanctioned and is being proceeded with for the year 1951; and how many additional school places it will provide when completed.
The programme of major school building projects approved for the financial year 1951–52 will provide about 190,000 places at an estimated cost of £40 million.
is my right hon. Friend reasonably hopeful that, by 1953, places will be provided for the 1,150,000 additional children who will then require them?
Yes, Sir.
Can the Minister say to what extent the current year's programme has been complicated by arrears of last year's, and whether they have been made up?
That is another question.
St Andrew's School, Totteridge
6 and 7.
asked the Minister of Education (1) why he is not prepared to make a grant towards the extension of St. Andrew's School, Totteridge, on the lines proposed by the managers and supported by the local education authority;
(2) by what criteria he decides whether an extension to an existing school should be regarded as creating an entirely new school.On the information before me I have reached the conclusion that the enlargement of this school in accordance with the development plan would amount to the establishment of a new school, and a maintenance contribution under Section 102 of the Education Act, 1944, would not be possible. In determining such questions I take into account all the circumstances, including the proposed increase in numbers in relation to the size of the school, any recent previous enlargement, and any consequential change in the character of the school.
As the local education authority regards this as the only satisfactory educational solution, and local opinion supports it, will the Minister change his mind, as his present decision involves very large expenditure in respect of a new school, much larger than would be involved in making a grant towards the extension of the existing school?
This situation would apply in a great many instances.
Why should not the Minister do it in a great many instances?
Because it is contrary to the 1944 Act.
Special Schools, Wales
8 and 9.
asked the Minister of Education (1) if he will make a statement on the progress made by the Joint Education Committee for Wales with regard to the provision of special schools for handicapped children;
(2) what progress has been made in the provision of a special school in Wales for spastic children.Last October the Joint Education Committee opened a school for the deaf and partially deaf to take children from all parts of Wales: Three schools for educationally sub-normal and one for maladjusted children have also recently been opened by individual Welsh authorities, and work on providing eight further special schools in Wales is in progress or expected to begin within the next year. I understand that the Joint Education Committee have been considering what further provision is needed in Wales for handicapped children, including spastics. I have suggested to the Committee that a full discussion between their representatives and my officers would be helpful, and I hope to arrange a meeting shortly.
While thanking the Minister for that most encouraging reply concerning educational development in Wales, may I ask him if he will speed up this consultation because the problem of spastic children is very distressing and urgent?
Yes, Sir, I will certainly do that.
Is it because of the presence of a Socialist Government for five or six years in this country that there are so many children in Wales with spasms that special schools have to be provided for them?
For the benefit of the rest of the House, I would explain there is no connection between "spasms" and "spastic."
But I have just looked it up in the dictionary.
Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that the shortage in Wales is only part of a wider shortage of accommodation for spastic children?
There is a general shortage of accommodation in England and Wales, which we have been seeking to remedy.
Art Galleries And Museums (Financial Aid)
10.
asked the Minister of Education when he hopes to introduce legislation whereby he can assist financially provincial art galleries and museums, whether municipally controlled or privately owned.
I am not able to make any statement on this matter.
Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that the need for this aid is very great? Can he say that he will bring in legislation to this effect when his financial circumstances are less straitened?
Schools, Essex (Teachers)
11.
asked the Minister of Education what is the average size of modern secondary school classes in the urban districts of Essex; to what extent there is a shortage of teachers for these schools; and what action has been taken to prevent any temporary call-up of Reservists adversely affecting teaching staffs.
The answer to the first part of the Question is 32.5. I have no information to suggest that there is a shortage of teachers in these schools. So far as the temporary call-up of Z and equivalent reservists is concerned I should not feel justified in seeking special protection for teachers.
Is the Minister aware that there are some schools in Essex with classes of 40 and 50 children? In view of the increase in the child population of Essex, can he see that a sufficient supply of teachers is reserved for Essex in the coming months?
If my hon. Friend will give me information as to the numbers and places, I will look into the matter.
Teachers' Pensions (Payment)
12.
asked the Minister of Education whether he will consider introducing legislation to enable teachers' pensions to be paid at monthly intervals instead of quarterly as at present.
I have promised to consider this matter, should legislation be introduced, but I cannot give any undertaking to alter the present arrangements.
Would not the Minister agree that considerable help would be given to such pensioners by this suggestion? Has he not had many representations on this matter?
Yes, Sir, there are a great many representations, but I would point out that the administrative work concerned would be three or four times as great as under the present arrangement.
Does the right hon. Gentleman mean to imply that it would need legislation to introduce this simple administrative change?
It would need legislation to do what the hon. Member for Mitcham (Mr. Carr) suggests should be done.
Special Schools, Buckingham
13.
asked the Minister of Education what schools are available for the education and care of mentally retarded children whose parents live in the county of Buckingham; which of them are residential; what measures he is taking to increase the amount of accommodation available; and what procedure is used in the selection of pupils for entrance.
There are three special schools, two of which are largely residential. Places are also taken in special schools outside the area and special educational treatment is provided in certain normal schools. A new special school and the enlargement of the three existing schools is contemplated, while 22 additional places have been secured outside the county. As soon as children are ascertained to be educationally sub-normal steps are taken to obtain appropriate treatment for them, but some delay in placing them is at present inevitable owing to shortage of accommodation.
Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the progress of these backward children to normality and to the conditions and standards of those in ordinary schools is being endangered by the present delay in providing this special accommodation? Will he import some urgency into the consideration of these further measures?
I have been importing urgency into this matter for the last four years. Until then little or nothing had been done.
School Inspectors (Salaries)
15.
asked the Minister of Education whether approval has been given to the new salary scales for school inspectors.
The salary scales of inspectors and organisers employed by local education authorities do not require my formal approval under Section 89 of the Education Act, 1944. I have not yet been notified of the recommendations of the committee which has recently been considering them. When I am I shall consider whether the expenditure of authorities in paying salaries in accordance with the new scales can be admitted for grant from my Department.
Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I did not exactly ask whether he had approved the scales but whether approval had been given to the scales? As I understand the terms of reference of the committee, the scales are subject to ratification by local education authorities and the officers' organisation, and the last phrase is to the effect that the recommendations would come into effect on 1st April. Do I understand that this ratification has not yet been given and that there is, therefore, no assurance that the scales will come into effect as early as 1st April?
No, Sir. The position as far as the Ministry is concerned is that if I do not approve them the scales will be a charge on the rates only, but if they are approved by me they will be subject to grant.
Teachers' Salaries
16.
asked the Minister of Education whether the detailed recommendations for teachers' salaries of the Burnham Committee have yet been officially submitted to him.
No, Sir.
Does not the right hon. Member agree that this is a peculiar and not altogether satisfactory situation? The Minister, in his private capacity, as it were, made a public speech, not in this House, expressing his approval of these recommendations. Is it not rather inconvenient that there should be this large gap between his private and his official verdict?
Is my right hon. Friend aware that much detailed work has had to be completed by the Burnham Committee, and that it is hoped that their Report will shortly be in his hands?
I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Cardiff, West (Mr. G. Thomas), for having answered the supplementary question of the hon. Member for Devizes (Mr. Hollis) for me.
When he is considering the new proposals, will my right hon. Friend bear in mind the already accepted principle of equal pay for men and women?
Australian Armed Forces (Uk Recruits)
18.
asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations how many men in the United Kingdom for the year ended 31st December, 1950, were recruited into the Australian Armed Forces.
Nine hundred and forty-two, Sir.
Is this recruiting still going on?
Yes, I think so, Sir. There were certain agreed numbers up to which recruits could be sought in this country.
Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is some query over the allowances to be paid to men of the Royal Australian Navy who were recruited for service in this country only, and will he look into the matter?
Certainly, Sir, if the hon. and gallant Gentleman will put down a Question.
Migration (Assisted Passages)
19.
asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations how many people from the United Kingdom emigrated to Canada and Australia, respectively, for the year ended 31st December, 1950; and how many received assisted passages.
Full official statistics are available to the end of November, 1950, only. Between 1st January and 30th November, 1950, 12,614 men, women and children emigrated by sea to Canada and 50,519 to Australia. During the whole of 1950, 37,220 persons sailed under the Free and Assisted Passage Schemes for Australia. There were no such schemes for Canada.
Does the Prime Minister think it is wise for us to encourage the best of our stock to emigrate, and for us to get second-rate stock from Europe?
I understood that there was general agreement that persons of British stock should go to the Commonwealth.
Is the Prime Minister aware that out of the 150,000 people expected to emigrate to Canada this year, only 30,000 will be of British stock? As Canada is most anxious to have people from here, and there are many willing to go, will the Government reconsider the financial restrictions involved?
That is a matter for discussion. I am sure that if the noble Lady will discuss it with the hon. Member for Louth (Mr. Osborne), it will clarify his mind.