HC Deb 09 March 1927 vol 203 cc1234-5
60. Mr. HAYDN JONES

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that the Departmental Committee which has been appointed to consider the training of teachers interested in country life and occupations contains no member who possesses intimate acquaintance with Wales and Welsh rural conditions; whether the Welsh Department of the Board of Education was consulted in regard to the composition of such Committee; and what steps he proposes to take to make the Committee representative of Wales as well as of England?

61. Mr. ERNEST EVANS

asked the President of the Board of Education if the Departmental Committee appointed to consider the question of establishing for teachers courses of training which will meet the special needs of country schools will include the needs of Wales within the scope of its inquiry; and, if so, if he will appoint someone having practical knowledge of the conditions obtaining in Wales to serve on the Committee?

The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of EDUCATION (Lord Eustace Percy)

The answer to the first two parts of the question put by the hon. Member for Merioneth (Mr. Haydn Jones) is in the affirmative. A delegacy will, I hope, shortly be set up by the University of Wales, in consultation with the authorities of training colleges, to conduct the final examination for training college students in Wales and Monmouthshire; and I propose to ask that body to consider the matter so far as the special interests of Wales are affected.

Mr. MORRIS

Will this Committee which has already been set up, consider the special conditions of Wales?

Lord E. PERCY

It is to inquire into the general rural problem, but, after all, the recommendations are not going to be recommendations which can be enforced upon any local authority or training college which does not want to adopt them.

Mr. MORRIS

Will the Report of this Committee affect the rural conditions in Wales?

Lord E. PERCY

I hope that the Report of the Committee will be one which the local authorities in rural districts in Wales will very carefully consider.

Mr. MORRIS

In that event, how is it that no one familiar with the conditions in Wales has been placed upon the Committee?

Lord E. PERCY

The hon. Member will remember that I have been asked before why I did not put on members representing other interests. I am afraid that any Committee will become excessively large if I have to put on representatives of all the possible interests that may be involved.