16. Sir F. HALLasked the President of the Board of Education whether his attention has been called to the formation, under the direction of the Young Comrades League, of Communist groups in certain public elementary schools in this country; is he aware that in some cases small typed sheets are circulated among the children containing revolutionary and other objectionable matter; and if he will state what steps will be taken to put a stop to this campaign in schools maintained at the expense of the taxpayers and ratepayers?
Duchess of ATHOLLMy right hon. Friend is aware of the activities of the body to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers, which he thinks are unanimously condemned by everyone who is interested in the welfare of the children. As regards the last part of the question, it is open to local authorities to give instructions, when necessary, to the head teachers of public elementary schools as to the introduction of newspapers and similar matter into the schools in their area, and my right hon. Friend is confident that they and the teachers can be relied upon to prevent the schools being used as a medium of objectionable propaganda.
Sir F. HALLWhere the schools are known where this Communist propaganda is being circulated, will the President of the Board of Education get in touch with the authorities of those schools?
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSIs there any case within the knowledge of the President of the Board where leaflets of that description have actually been circulated to children, either inside or very near to an elementary school?
§ Colonel WOODCOCKIs the President of the Board of Education aware that the greater part of this organisation of "Young Comrades" is arranged in Moscow or by alien Communists in this country?
§ Mr. MACLEANArising out of the reply of the Noble Lady that the President would require notice of the question whether any of these things have been circulated, did she not, in her original reply, say that her right hon. Friend was aware of these things being done, and, consequently, has he not got the information already?
Sir F. HALLThe question I asked was whether the Board would get in touch with the authorities where they know that these leaflets have been circulated. Will that be done?
§ Major COLFOXIs it not possible to set up some test of loyalty to the Crown on the part of teachers in the elementary schools?
§ Mr. MACLEANIf there were a test of intelligence, you would never pass it.
§ Mr. HARRISCannot something be done to stop the elementary schools being used for any kind of political propaganda whatever?
§ Major COLFOXOn a point of Order. Is an hon. Member opposite in order in making the remark that if there were a test of intelligence, another Member would never pass it?
§ Mr. SPEAKERSuch an observation is not worth noticing.
§ Mr. TREVELYANCannot the Board of Education trust the teachers to look after their schools?
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSWill the Noble Lady deprecate the suggestion contained in the question until real evidence is forthcoming?
Duchess of ATHOLLThe hon. Member who has last spoken put a question in a more specific form than the question on the Paper, and that is why I asked for further notice of it. As t the question put by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Dulwich (Sir F. Hall), I do not think I can undertake to answer what action my right hon. Friend might take in hypothetical circumstances. Finally, I think that part of the answer I have given is very much to the effect of the suggestion made by the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Central Newcastle (Mr. Trevelyan).