§ 31. Mr. D. MILLARasked the Under Secretary to the Scottish Board of Health 2034 if he can state whether the Scottish Office have received any representations from school management committees or other bodies in Scotland against the proposed amendment of Section 3 of the Education (Scotland) Act, 1918, as regards the powers of school management committees contained in Section 3 of the Education (Scotland) Bill; and, if so, whether he can state the names of these committees or other bodies and the special grounds of objection submitted by them?
§ The SOLICITOR-GENERAL for SCOTLANDThe Department have received no representations from school management committees or other bodies in reference to Clause 3 of the Education (Scotland) Bill.
§ Mr. MILLARSeeing now that the Government have accepted or incorporated an Amendment dealing with this matter, will they secure information as to the views of the school management committees and the other bodies before this Bill gets a Second Reading?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONIs it the intention of the Government to take this Bill after 11 o'clock at night, in view of the fact that the hon. and learned Gentleman has received intimation from all quarters of the House that there are a great many points that require very careful consideration?
§ Mr. A. SHAWWould the hon. and learned Gentleman also take into consideration the fact that the Members of this House have received a very important communication from the school management committees, which shows that this is a burning question, that ought not to be taken late at night?
§ Sir HENRY CRAIKI have a further question—
§ Mr. SPEAKERIf it is about the Business of the House in connection with this matter, it should be taken at the end of questions.
§ Sir H. CRAIKNo, Sir: what I want to know is whether, when this Bill was introduced by the Secretary for Scotland, it did not contain the very contentious Clauses now mentioned, and, whether, in view of that fact, the hon. and learned Gentleman will give us adequate time for discussion?
§ The SOLICITOR-GENERAL for SCOTLANDIn answer to the first supplementary question, the Government accepted this Clause which was moved in the House of Lords by the Duke of Athol who brought it forward at the unanimous request of the education authorities in Scotland. My Noble Friend said in the House of Lords that if serious opposition manifested itself in another place—that is this House of Commons—to the Clause that the whole question would have to be reconsidered and I personally regret there should be this opposition to the Clause, but I think it is quite clear, in view of the opposition manifested in various quarters, it will not be possible for the Government to proceed with it.
§ Sir H. CRAIKIs my hon. and learned Friend aware that the education authorities who have made representations in favour of this Clause, are precisely the people whose authority will be very greatly increased, while that of the school management committees will be correspondingly decreased?
§ The SOLICITOR-GENERAL for SCOTLANDIn education matters, surely the education authorities represent the people of Scotland?