§ 23. Mr. R. RICHARDSONasked the President of the Board of Education what action he proposes to take to ensure further education by evening classes to boys working in the mines in the County of Durham, owing to the fact that their working hours will only allow of their being able to attend every third week?
§ Lord E. PERCYThe matter is primarily one for the local education authority. Their programme includes proposals for special centres at West Stanley and Bishop Auckland, and I understand that the Miners' Welfare Committee are prepared to make capital grants for the provision of these, and of similar, centres in the county.
§ Mr. RICHARDSONMy point is not as to the provision that is made, but how the boys are to be able to take advantage of it.
§ Lord E. PERCYI do not quite understand why the hull. Member puts the question to me. The provision will be there. The question of what arrangements will be made for boys to be able to take advantage of it is surely one for settlement in the industry itself, and surely no Minister of State can bring boys to centres of Voluntary education when they do not wish to come or by the conditions of their employment are prevented from coming.
§ Mr. RICHARDSONHas the Noble Lord not power to compel the employers to give the boys time to attend? He has the power for elementary education.