§ 21. Major KINDERSLEYasked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that the headmaster of the Hedley Hill council school on various dates between 5th and 9th November refused to give food to four children, aged 14, 11, 7, and 4½, at the school canteen, their father, a coal hewer at the Hedley Hill colliery, having returned to work at the colliery on 1st November, although his first pay was not due until 13th November; that on the afternoon of 10th November, having discovered that the children had received meals that day, the headmaster thrashed the two elder children in school for having disobeyed his orders in attending the canteen; whether these facts have been communicated to the local education authority; what action they have taken in the matter; and what action does he propose to take?
§ Lord E. PERCYI have no knowledge of this incident, but if my hon. and gallant Friend will supply me with the information in his possession, I will make inquiries.
§ Mr. LAWSONMay I ask, Mr. Speaker, if it is within the Rules of Order for an lion. Gentleman to make a very serious assertion against a particular person, and to use this House as a means of doing so, when the particular person concerned has no opportunity of defending himself?
§ Mr. SPEAKEREach hon. Member takes responsibility for what he puts on the Paper.
§ Mr. LAWSONMay I point out, Sir, that the President of the Board of Education says he has no knowledge of the very serious charges that are made in this question. These charges are made, and there may be nothing in them, but the hon. Gentleman who makes them can go off scot-free, while the teacher himself, or the headmaster, will probably have to bear the brunt of these charges.
§ Mr. SPEAKERWe must wait until the matter has been cleared up.
§ Mr. BATEYMay I ask the President of the Board of Education if he will make inquiries into this allegation, as some of us know the schoolmaster, and we are satisfied that the statement is an absolute lie?
§ Lord E. PERCYI have said I will make inquiries.
§ Mr. COMPTONCan we put down another question?
§ Mr. R. MORRISONIf the result of the Noble Lord's inquiries bear out the contention of my hon. Friend the Member for Chester-le-Street (Mr. Lawson), will he see that the same publicity is given to those facts as has been given to the question of the hon. and gallant Member for Hitchin (Major Kindersley)?
§ Lord E. PERCYI cannot answer a hypothetical question. I am sure that my hon. and gallant Friend who put this question will put down a further question, and, if he does not, any hon. Member opposite can do so.