HC Deb 05 July 1928 vol 219 cc1557-8
26. Mr. COWAN

asked the President of the Board of Education whether the Board have had under consideration the desirability of encouraging in all possible cases the provision of playing fields for the use of scholars attending post-primary schools; whether there is any reason for the omission of reference to the provision of playing fields in Circular 139V and the New Prospect in Education: and whether it would be possible for the Board to issue a letter of advice or suggestion on the subject to local education authorities?

Duchess of ATHOLL

My right hon. Friend is prepared to consider most sympathetically proposals for remedying the existing shortage of playing-field accommodation, but the circular and pamphlet, to which the hon. Member refers, were concerned with the specific problem of school organisation and school supply, rather than with that of the provision of general facilities for the children, and it would be wrong to regard the absence of reference in these documents to the provision of playing fields as any indication that the Board are not fully alive to the importance of such provision.

Mr. PALING

In view of the fact that a good many of these schools are going up at present, and that hardly any of them have playing fields provided with them, would it not have been better to have dealt with this question immediately while the ground was being bought on which to build the schools?

Duchess of ATHOLL

The matter is being dealt with in many cases of the new schools that are being put up, and I think the local authorities are generally aware how necessary the Board consider the provision of playing fields to be.

Viscountess ASTOR

Does the Noble Lady not think it would be better to make it compulsory for the local authorities, when they are building new schools, to provide playing fields for them? Will she watch what they are doing in Vienna?