§ 38. Mr. THURTLEasked the President of the Board of Education if he has received a copy of a resolution passed by the National Union of Teachers urging that there shall be no change made in the existing status of non-provided schools in 1293 England and Wales; if he has received resolutions from the Free Church Council and any other organisations to the same effect; and what action he proposes to take?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of EDUCATION (Lord Eustace Percy)I have seen a copy of a resolution passed by the National Union of Teachers, to which, I suppose, the hon. Member refers, though the resolution in question referred to the status of provided schools. I have received a copy of the resolutions of the Joint Education Committee of the Federal and National Councils of Evangelical Free Churches as well as resolutions from other bodies on the question of religious instruction. I hardly think the hon. Member will expect me to deal with the whole question of religious instruction in answer to a Parliamentary question but, in so far as these resolutions call for action in regard to religious instruction in provided schools, they are in tune with the policy which the Board of Education have been pursuing in the past and hope to carry further in the future.
§ Mr. THURTLEMay I take it that the Board of Education has no intention to interfere with the status quo?
§ Lord E. PERCYThe hon. Member had better understand precisely what I have said in my answer to his question.