§ Mr. WILLIAM PEELasked whether the right hon. Gentleman was aware that the regulations of the Board and the conditions of registration in evening classes have involved so much extra work that a local education authority has abandoned the idea of a course of instruction in all its evening schools, and only in the school of arts and crafts is there now any attempt to establish them; whether he is aware that the policy of the Board of Education, in issuing new and important regulations at very short notice, is most harassing to local authorities and teachers, and therefore detrimental to good work; and can he give the House an assurance that the regulations which he has stated he proposes to issue will be founded upon expert advice, and issued in sufficient time to enable local authorities to indicate to the Board of Education whether they are workable or not before the time comes for opening the classes at which such registers have to be used?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANSo far as can be ascertained the answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. In reply to the other portions of the question, I have nothing to add to the answers 842 given on 20th April and 2nd May, and to Circular 765.
§ Mr. RUNCIMANYes, Sir. We have been giving ample notice to the local authorities, and quite recently we have communicated with some of the local authorities informing them that some of their regulations must be deferred for a year owing to insufficiency of notice.