HC Deb 22 July 1926 vol 198 cc1397-9
21. Mr. TREVELYAN

asked the President of the Board of Education whether, in view of the fact that the Hornsey education authority have been urged by the Board to make reductions in their teaching staff which would involve the dismissal of 67 of their teachers out of 210, he will give the terms of the Board's letter which states the staffing standard which they propose to enforce?

Lord E. PERCY

I am circulating a copy of the letter referred to in the OFFICIAL REPORT. As the right hon. Member will see, I have not required the Authority to make any specific reduction in their teaching staff. The rate of expenditure which I have indicated to them for their consideration is, approximately, the rate of expenditure in London for the current year.

Mr. COVE

Is it not a fact that the rate of expenditure which is indicated to the Hornsey local authority will demand a considerable reduction of teachers before it can be realised, and further, has not the Noble Lord indicated to the authority a definite standard as regards the number of pupils there may be in a class?

Lord E. PERCY

With regard to the last point, that is not correct. If the hon. Member will look at the letter he will see that there is nothing whatever about the number of pupils to a class. As regards the question whether the figure indicated would involve a reduction in the number of teachers, I have yet to be convinced of that fact. I believe I am seeing a deputation from the local authority in a few days and I will discuss that question with them. The rate of expenditure I have indicated is not one applying particularly or wholly to teachers' salaries, but covers other expenditure and costs of administration as well.

Mr. COVE

Is it not a fact that the authority, after reading the letter from the Department, and after interviews with the Board of Education, stated it in public quite definitely that the Board's demand can only be met by a considerable reduction in the number of teachers?

Mr. SPEAKER

That is not the question on the paper.

Following is the letter referred to:

2nd July, 1926.

1. Hornsey.

2. Local Education Authority Expenditure.

J. 194 E/8.

Sir,

With reference to Mr. Allen's letter of 9th June, and to the subsequent semiofficial discussions which have taken place in regard to the authority's revised forecast of expenditure for the year 1926–27, I am directed to state that the Board have given careful consideration to the representations which the authority have made to them; but they remain of the opinion that the expenditure proposed by the authority is in excess of that which the Board can properly recognise for grant. On the bases of the figures of average attendance at the schools in the authority's area for the year 1925–26, the cost per unit of average attendance for elementary education, under the headings Teachers' Salaries, Administration, and other Expenditure, appears to amount to about 315s. 2d. This figure is very greatly in excess of the general standard of expenditure on corresponding services in other areas where the provision for elementary education is admittedly efficient and progressive, and the Board do not feel that they would be justified in recognising for grant expenditure by the authority for the current year, under these three headings, at a higher rate than approximately 285s. per unit of average attendance.

The Board do not name this figure as a definite standard of expenditure. As a matter of fact, this rate of expenditure is itself substantially in excess of that incurred on corresponding services in other areas. They put it forward for the authority's consideration as in all the circumstances a reasonable figure for the current year, on the understanding that the authority are now entering upon a serious consideration of the whole organisation of their educational services, with a view to making such reductions in expenditure, during the next two or three years, as have been found in other areas to be compatible with educational efficiency.

I am, Sir,

Your obedient Servant,

(Sd.) M. G. HOLMES.

To the

Local Education Authority.