HC Deb 06 August 1918 vol 109 cc1295-6

(1) It shall be the duty of a local education authority for the purposes of Part III. of the Education Act, 1902, to make adequate and suitable provision in order that full benefit may be derived from the system of public elementary schools, and for that purpose, amongst other matters—

  1. (a) to make adequate and suitable provision by means of central schools, central or special classes, or otherwise—
  2. (b) to make adequate and suitable arrangements under the provisions of paragraph (b) of Sub-section (1) of Section thirteen of the Education (Administrative Provisions) Act, 1907, for attending to the health and physical condition of children educated in public elementary schools; and
  3. (c) to make adequate and suitable arrangements for co-operating with local education authorities for the purposes of Part II. of the Education Act, 1902, in matters of common interest,

and any such authority from time to time may, and shall when required by the Board of Education, submit to the Board schemes for the purposes aforesaid.

Lords Amendments:

In Sub-section (1), leave out the words "for the purposes of," and insert instead thereof the words "so to exercise their powers under."—Agreed to.

Leave out the words "1902, to make adequate and suitable provision in order that full benefit may be derived from the system of public elementary schools, and for that purpose, amongst other matters," and insert instead thereof the words "as."—Agreed to.

In paragraph (a), after the word "make" ["to make adequate and suitable provision"], insert the words "or otherwise to secure."

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said Amendment."—[Mr. Fisher.]

Mr. KING

These Amendments have taken away a great deal of the rhetoric which was in this Clause. I commented on this, and even tried to improve the rhetoric when we were in Committee. On that occasion the President of the Board of Education was so proud of his rhetoric that he would not listen to my Amendment, but I suppose he has learnt, as we all do, that rhetoric is not, after all, the whole of life. There is a great deal of attention effected by this Amendment, but what I object to is the omission of the words "amongst other matters." I think that is rather unfortunate, because it restricts the wide scope of the Amendment. It is very difficult really to understand how far these Amendments will restrict the power in making schemes. I want to know whether the President has really considered that point, and whether he can assure us that the effect of this Amendment, taken together, is not unduly to interfere with the scope of the scheme.

Mr. FISHER

I would like to give my hon. Friend that assurance. It was never intended that the local education authorities under Part III. of the Act of 1902 should be compelled to exercise the functions which were not within their powers under that Act, and this is made explicit in the amended Clause.

Question put, and agreed to.

Lords Amendments:

In paragraph (b), after the word "make" ["to make adequate and suitable arrangements"], insert the words "or otherwise to secure."—Agreed to.

In paragraph (c), after the word "make" ["to make adequate and suitable arrangements for "], insert the words "or otherwise to secure."—Agreed to.

Leave out the words "purposes aforesaid" ["schemes for the purposes aforesaid"] and insert instead thereof the words "exercise of their powers as an authority for the purposes of Part III. of the Education Act, 1902."—Agreed to.

Leave out the words "(1) With a view to continuing the education of young persons and helping them to prepare for the freedom and responsibilities of adult life."—Agreed to.