HC Deb 16 October 1918 vol 110 cc230-1
Mr. MUNRO

I beg to move, after paragraph (7), to insert 8. (Meetings.)—An education authority shall meet at such times as the conduct of business may require. There shall be at least one general meeting of every education authority in each month, except the months of August and September. This Amendment I have referred to on more than one occasion in the course of to-day's proceedings. Its purpose is to ensure that the education authority shall meet at due and fitting seasons—that is to say, shall meet as often as is necessary to transact the business which one may reasonably anticipate it will have to transact. After full consideration, I have come to the conclusion that a reasonable provision would be that that education authority should be enjoined to meet not less than once a month, with the exception of the two months of August and September, during which there may be some difficulty in getting a quorum, and during which time the holiday season may render meetings not only difficult but also unnecessary. In these circumstances I hope the House will agree with the provision as a reasonable one and that the Amendment will be accepted.

Mr. GULLAND

I beg to move, as an Amendment to the proposed Amendment, to leave out the words "the months of," and to insert instead thereof the words "in two of the months of July."

I agree entirely with the Amendment of the right hon. Gentleman, and my point is a very small one of convenience. It is true that in many parts of the country the holiday months are August and September, but in many other parts of the country the holiday months are July and August, and I am quite sure the right hon. Gentleman would not wish to insist that August and September shall be the holiday months everywhere. As a matter of fact, in the elementary schools of Scotland it is almost universal that the holidays are in July and August, and therefore I beg to move my Amendment, which means that the authority can choose July and August if it likes.

Mr. MUNRO

I do not admire the draftsmanship of this Amendment, and I am sure my right hon. Friend will probably agree with me in that criticism, but so far as substance is concerned, I think he has made a reasonable case. I am prepared to accept the Amendment, and I will see whether, before the Bill goes to another place, the drafting cannot be improved.

Amendment to the proposed Amendment agreed to.

Proposed words, as amended, there inserted in the Bill.