§ 22. Mr. T. KENNEDYasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has considered the expressions of resentment by the whole of the Scottish education authorities against the minute of the Scottish Education Department, dated 28th March, 1928, with reference to the expenses of education authorities; if he is aware that the terms of the minute are regarded as an invasion of the rights of education authorities; and if he will now agree to modify or withdraw the restriction in the minute which deprives authorities of the power to attend educational conferences in England or to send representatives out of Scotland without the consent of the Scottish Education Department?
§ Sir J. GILMOURSix weeks before the minute of 28th March, 1928, was laid on the Table of the House, it was submitted in draft to the whole of the education authorities of Scotland for their observations. When the replies came to be considered, it was found that only one of the 37 authorities raised any objection whatever to the provision mentioned by the hon. Member, despite the fact that special attention had been called to it in the covering circular. In the circumstances, the reply to the first and second parts of the question must obviously be in the negative. In answering the third part in the negative, I should like to assure the hon. Member that there is no intention of unduly restricting the reasonable discretion of education authorities.
§ Mr. STEPHENWhich was the single authority?
§ Sir J. GILMOURGlasgow.
§ 24. Mr. WESTWOODasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has received the memorial of the education authority of Glasgow urging the withdrawal of the Education Authorities (Scotland) Expenses Regulations. 1928, placed upon the Table of this House on 2nd April; if he is aware that the executive of the education authorities of Scotland requested alterations in the minute; that the only case cited to a committee 1503 of that executive to justify alterations in existing minutes was the case of an authority sending a deputation out with Great Britain; that out with the country were the words used in urging the case for change; and, if so, will he agree to withdraw the minute and have deleted the paragraph objected to, and have inserted in its place the suggestion of the executive of the Association of Education Authorities?
§ Sir J. GILMOURThe answer to the first two parts of the question is in the affirmative, and to the third and fourth parts in the negative. With regard to the last part of the question, I have nothing to add to the reply which I have just given to the hon. Member for Kirkcaldy (Mr. T. Kennedy).