HC Deb 09 February 1922 vol 150 cc285-7
20. Lieut.-Colonel JAMES

asked the President of the Board of Education whether, in response to the pleadings of a deputation of the Education Committee of the London County Council, he has promised to introduce a Bill, or legalise by departmental enactment, a scheme whereby eleemosynary performances of the plays of Shakespeare and other great dramatic authors are to be provided throughout the county for the children attending the elementary schools?

The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of EDUCATION (Mr. Herbert Fisher)

I propose to amend Article 44 of the Code of Regulations for Public Elementary Schools so as to make it clear that attendances of children at demonstrations or performances designed to illustrate and supplement the studies of the scholars in the subjects of the curriculum may, under certain conditions, be reckoned as attendances at school for the purposes of that Article.

Lieut.-Colonel JAMES

Can the right hon. Gentleman say what is the estimated cost to the public of this alteration?

Mr. FISHER

The matter entirely depends upon the action which the local education authorities may take upon it.

Sir H. CRAIK

Is there any indication whatever that in regard to what may be called substituted classes which would be illustrative of work done in the school there can be any limitation of the expenditure?

Mr. FISHER

Yes. Limitations are being imposed by the Board of Education.

Sir C. YATE

Will the right hon. Gentleman give an order that no extra expense is to be incurred on this account?

Sir J. BUTCHER

Will the right hon. Gentleman give an undertaking that he will not, out of public funds, pay for school children to go to Shakespeare plays without the authority of Parliament?

Mr. FISHER

The Regulations amending the Code will, in pursuance of Section 44 of the Education Act, 1918, be published in draft for a period of 40 days before they are finally settled.

Lieut.-Colonel GUINNESS

Does not eleemosynary mean "free," and is it free from the point of view of the children paying, or free from the point of view of the taxpayer?

Mr. FISHER

The children will not pay.

Sir H. CRAIK

Are we to understand that a large expenditure of this sort may be carried out by the Board of Education by the simple alteration of an Article in the Code, which the right hon. Gentleman is perfectly well aware is never discussed by Parliament?

Captain LOSEBY rose

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Mr. SPEAKER

This is developing into a debate.