Mr. KINGasked the President of the Board of Education whether he will state what statutory sanction exists for the conditions laid down in the joint memorandum, dated 3rd January, 1911, signed by the Presidents of the Board of Trade and the Board of Education, issued in connection with the Education (Choice of Employment) Act; and whether the memorandum has evoked any protests from local authorities?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of EDUCATION (Mr. Trevelyan)The approval of the Board of Education is required by Section 1 (1) of the Education (Choice of Employment) Act, 1910, to schemes made by local educations authorities under that Act. It is obvious that the statutory responsibility for approval carries with it the power to lay down reasonable conditions upon which approval will be given. A protest against the requirements of the Memorandum has been received from the executive committee of a conference stated to have been attended by representatives from local education authorities. It will be within the recollection of the House that, while the Bill was under discussion, my right hon. Friend stated, in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for West Leeds, on the 29th July, 1910, that it was intended to secure co-operation between the authorities and Labour Exchanges by means of arrangements between the Board of Trade and the Board of Education.
Mr. KINGIs it not imposing a very great difficulty upon a local education authority when it has not only to satisfy the Board of Education but also the Board of Trade?
§ Mr. TREVELYANI think there is no serious difficulty in the matter.