§ 70. Mr. MILLSasked the President of the Board of Education if he is aware that many hundreds of children are being 1838 excluded from the elementary schools in the North-West Kent area and that classes are being increased in size; and what action he proposes to take in view of the Government's attitude as expressed lately?
§ Mr. FISHERI have no reason to suppose that any children are being excluded from school for whom the local education authority are bound to make provision, or that the efficiency of the schools is being impaired by increase of the size of classes.
§ Mr. MILLSWill the right hon. Gentleman take action if I bring to his notice evidence of dismissal of teachers concurrently with increase of numbers in classes in the elementary schools of Kent?
§ Mr. FISHERCertainly.
§ 72. Mr. GRUNDYasked the President of the Board of Education how many schools have been closed, how many scholars prevented from attending or refused admittance to the elementary schools, and how many teachers dismissed during February and March of this year by the English education authorities?
§ Mr. FISHERThe number of public elementary schools in England which were closed during February and March of this year, including those for which the date of closure was 31st March, is 12. The number of scholars on the rolls of these schools was about 611. In all these cases other accommodation was available for the children concerned. The Board have no information of the number of teachers whose engagements are from time to time terminated by local education authorities or school managers.