CLAUSE 27.—(Approval and Carrying Out of Schemes.) (Hansard, 16 October 1918)

§ Mr. GULLAND

I beg to move to leave out Sub-section (2), and to insert instead thereof, 229 (2) If the Department are of opinion that a scheme does not make adequate provision in respect of all or any of the purposes to which the scheme relates, and the Department are unable to agree with the authority as to what amendments should be made in the scheme they shall offer to old a conference with the representatives of the authority, and if requested by the authority shall hold a public inquiry in the matter. (3) If thereafter the Department disapproves a scheme they shall notify the authority and if, within one month thereafter, an agreement is not reached they shall lay before Parliament the report of the public inquiry (if any) together with a report stating their reasons for such disapproval and any action they intend to take in consequence thereof by way of withholding or reducing any grants payable to the authority. Sub-section (2) provides that due submission of schemes and the due carrying thereof into effect shall be a condition of all grants from the Department, and such grants may be reduced or withheld in respect of any failure in those duties by an education authority. That means that practically the Department has complete control of the authority, and a complete say as to whether a scheme is sufficient or not. The punishment that the Department can levy against an education authority is the withholding or reduction of the grant. In fact, it makes the Department omnipotent. Starting on a new scheme like this, the co-operation of both Department and education authority will be desirable, and it is a question whether the Department ought to be that supreme in such a dictatorial way as is provided by the Clause as it stands. I confess I much prefer the procedure adopted in England. I am extremely glad to see the right hon. Gentleman the President of the Board of Education of England present, because my Amendment, which I call on him to support, is in the words of his Act, which in this respect is, I think, more generous and tender and fairer than this Bill as it is now. The first and new Sub-section provides for the offer of a conference, and the second Sub-section that if the Department disapprove of a scheme they shall notify the authority, and if within a month agreement is not reached that they shall lay before Parliament the Report of the public inquiry (if any), together with a report stating their reasons for such disapproval, and any action they intend to take in consequence. That is a much more moderate, and sane, and reasonable proposal, and I should be extremely glad if the right hon. Gentleman would second the Amendment.