HC Deb 24 March 1927 vol 204 cc540-2
15. Mr. SHORT

asked the President of the Board of Education if he will state the secondary schools catering for school children attending the elementary schools of Wednesbury, Wilienhall, Bilston, Walsall, Tipton, Darlaston and Coseley; the total accommodation provided; the number of free places occupied; and the number of fee payers?

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

With the hon. Member's permission, I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a statement giving the information asked for.

Following is the reply:

On the 31st March, 1926, pupils from elementary schools in the areas in question were attending the following secondary schools: —

The total number of pupils in these schools on that date was 4,057, of whom 1,623 (or almost exactly 40 per cent.) were free pupils and 2,434 were fee-paying pupils.

20. Mr. PALIN

asked the President of the Board of Education if he is aware that in Bradford the present net expenditure per pupil in maintained secondary schools, including aid to students and to ex-students attending universities, is about £30 per annum; and whether he will reconsider the new limit of £25 per additional pupil in secondary schools now imposed by the Board, which will have the effect of prohibiting the provision of new secondary schools?

21. Mr. RITSON

asked the President of the Board of Education if he is aware that in Durham the present net expenditure per pupil in maintained secondary schools, including aid to students and to ex-students attending universities, is over £29 per annum and that the estimated loss of grant, if Circular 1388 is enforced, will amount to £10,000; and whether he will reconsider the Circular?

Lord E. PERCY

With the hon. Members' permission I will answer these questions together. The hon. Members appear to have overlooked the fact that certain factors, such as the progressive cost of scholarship schemes, are explicitly recognised in Circular 1388 as justifying expenditure in excess of the standard in certain cases. The Circular is based on the assumption that every authority will proceed with its programme proposals for 1927–28 for the provision of new secondary schools and will take all measures necessary to utilise to the fullest advantage all available accommodation in existing schools. This is, I believe, a valid assumption for the country as a whole, but if any authority apprehends that the approximate standards I have suggested may have the effect of limiting entry or restricting the grant of free places, they have only to communicate with the Board, as several authorities have already done, with, I think, satisfactory results.