§ 50. Mr. RENNIE SMITHasked the President of the Board of Education if the change in educational policy, fore—shadowed in Circular 1371 and Memorandum 44 will in any way affect the grants made on behalf of adult education, and especially the Workers' Educational Association tutorial class movement; and whether he contemplates any changes in the future, either of a progressive or retrogressive character?
§ Lord E. PERCYThe Circular and the Allemorandum will in no way affect the direct grants payable by the Board in aid or the programme of classes for the present academic year which was submitted to me by the responsible bodies and which I have approved. I cannot say to what extent local authorities are including provision for additional aid to such classes in their revised estimates, but the total amount of money involved is so small that I do not think the Circular 1230 and Memorandum need have any appreciable effect on the policy of local authorities in this matter. As regards the second part of the question, I have arranged to meet representatives of the various bodies interested in adult education, on 26th February, and I should prefer to make no statement in advance, but I anticipate that there will in any case he some increase in the amount of the Board's direct grants for the next two academic years.
§ Mr. W. THORNEDid the Memorandum 44 advise local education authorities not to build any more schools for the next two or three years, and if that is so, what is going to become of the children who are becoming of school age?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member should give notice of that question.