§ 44. Mr. TREVELYANasked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that, as a result of a letter from the Board to the Education Authority of Bromley, Kent, complaining that the size of the teaching staff was comparatively high, the authority is intending to make a reduction in staffing; and what are the figures which cause the Board to object to the present standard of staffing?
Duchess of ATHOLLThe letter was sent because the cost of school staffing in this area appeared high enough to make it only fair to the authority that their attention should be drawn to the subject.
§ Mr. TREVELYANCan the Noble Lady say what the general character of the staffing was, and what the figures were?
§ Mr. KIRKWOODIs it not the case, owing to this understaffing, that there are some teachers who have as many as from 50 to 60 scholars under their control?
Duchess of ATHOLLI think my right hon. Friend the President of the Board made it quite clear that it has been his policy all along to try to reduce these large classes. He has shown that considerable improvement has been made in regard to these in some areas, and he has made it equally clear to authorities that he does not desire that there shall be any loss of the progress made.
§ Mr. TREVELYANMay we, in those cases in which the right hon. Gentleman seems to think that the authorities are staffing too well, have the figures given us, in order that we may know what his standards are?
§ Mr. TREVELYANBut the question is what I have asked, namely, whether the right hon. Gentleman can give us figures.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODI am sorry to press the Noble Lady in this fashion, but she did not answer my question. I put a simple question, and I want you, Mr. Speaker, to judge between me and her. I simply asked—and I do not want a long reply but a straight answer—if it is not the case that there are classes all over the country of from 50 to 60 children with one teacher looking after them.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODBut your supporters in the country say that is not true.
§ Mr. COVEHaving regard to the fact that such a letter has been issued to more than one authority, is it the case that the Board of Education have now a general standard of staffing which is applied to authorities up and down the country?
§ 55. Mr. VIANTasked the President of the Board of Education what reason the local Education Authority of Bromley, Kent, has given for their decision not to build a new school on the Downham Estate which had already been sanctioned by the Board of Education?
Duchess of ATHOLLMy right hon. Friend is not aware that the authority have decided not to proceed with the erection of this school. They were informed on 1st February that the preliminary plans were generally satisfactory.