HC Deb 18 February 1926 vol 191 cc2115-6
40. Colonel APPLIN

asked the President of the Board of Education whether his attention has been drawn to the first national conference of the Young Comrades' League and junior Communist movement, held at the Socialist Hall, Higher Openshaw, at which school children between seven and 15 years of age were present as delegates, and were addressed by a man, known as Comrade Baker, who called on them to absent themselves from school during strikes; and what action he proposes to take to ensure that public education is not interfered with by agitators during industrial disputes?

60. Sir F. HALL

asked the President of the Board of Education whether his attention has been called to the two days' conference held in Manchester recently by the Young Comrades' League, an organisation for the propagation of Communistic and revolutionary principles among school children, which was attended by a large number of children of school age; and whether his Department gave permission for such children to be absent from school for this purpose?

Duchess of ATHOLL

My right hon. Friend's attention has been called to the proceedings of this conference. The administration of the law of school attendance rests with the local authorities, and he is confident that he can rely upon them to take all steps that are necessary and proper to discharge their responsibilities under the Education Act in such circumstances as those referred to by my hon. and gallant Friends. My right hon. Friend knows also that the nation can rely upon the teachers in our schools to use all their influence to counteract such attempts to exploit children for political ends.

Mr. WESTWOOD

Will the Noble Lady say if the Education Department will use all its influence with the authorities to see that the children of strikers are fed during industrial disputes?

Mr. SCRYMGEOUR

A very intelligent question.

Mr. W. THORNE

Has the Noble Lady seen a verbatim report of the speech made by this comrade in question?

Mr. MACQUISTEN

If the children are to be driven out of the schools on these occasions, would it not be advisable that some compulsion should be used to make the parents return and occupy the schools themselves?

Sir F. HALL

Will the Minister of Education give careful consideration to the question of withholding Treasury grants from local education authorities who foster these ideas of bloodshed?

Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

And Imperialism and war also?