§ 74. Mr. RENDALLasked the President of the Board of Education whether great pressure has been and is being brought to bear on his Department to reduce the Board's staff of inspectors; and can he state that he has resisted and will continue to resist the weakening of a staff which has never been large enough to cope with increasing educational necessities?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of EDUCATION (Mr. Lewis)The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative, though the desirability of differentiation between the functons of the Board's inspectors and of inspectors employed by local education authorities was referred to by the Retrenchment Committee. No occasion for resistance on my part has arisen.
§ 75. Mr. RENDALLasked the President of the Board of Education if he has consented to reduce the Board's staff under pressure from the Retrenchment Committee; and, if he has not, can he give an assurance that he will oppose any reduction in the expenditure of the Board, which has greater responsibility for the future, intellectual, and moral condition of the British race than any other Department?
§ Mr. LEWISThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. As regards the second part, I appreciate my hon. Friend's estimate of the Board's responsibilities and will certainly try to secure the means of fulfilling them.