56. Mr. OLD FIELDasked the President of the Board of Education whether he has taken any steps to consult the owners of non-provided schools in regard to making provision for the raising of the school age.
§ Sir C. TREVELYANIt rests with the local authorities in the first instance to consult with the managers of the non-provided schools in their areas, but the Board and the Board's Inspectors are ready at any time to give any advice that may be required.
§ Mr. OLDFIELDIn view of my right hon. Friend's admission in Circular 1404 that an additional burden will be placed on the local authorities, does he not consider that in practice an additional burden would also be placed on non-provided schools?
§ Sir C. TREVELYANI am answering a question about that general subject in a few minutes.
§ Mr. A. A. SOMERVILLEDoes the right hon. Gentleman contemplate affording any assistance to non-provided schools in making provision for the raising of the school age?
§ Sir C. TREVELYANI have just said that I am going to answer a question on that subject.
§ Mr. BEAUMONTCan the right hon. Gentleman tell us whether he has been asked to receive a deputation of responsible owners of non-provided schools, and, if he has not been so asked, will he consider receiving such a deputation?
§ Mr. OLDFIELDI should like to ask my right hon. Friend whether it was not a fact that in July he said that the reason why he had not approached the owners of non-provided schools was because he could not do everything at once and that he had not had time to look into it? I now ask him if he has yet found time to do so?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe right hon. Gentleman has said that he is going to give a full answer in reply to another question on this subject.
§ 59. Mr. DUKESasked the President of the Board of Education if he has considered the effect of Circular 1404 upon the non-provided schools; and whether, in view of the added burden which the Order imposes upon Catholic schools, he is prepared to extend to them the same financial assistance as is conceded to council schools?
§ 60. Lieut.- Commander KENWORTHYasked the President of the Board of Education, whether he has now given further consideration to the question of additional aid to non-provided schools in view of the extra accommodation that will be required when the school-leaving age is raised; and whether it is still proposed to call a round-table conference of the principal parties interested with a view to an agreed policy?
§ Sir C. TREVELYANI have already made clear in my reply to a question oh 4th July that His Majesty's Government are not prepared to alter the settlement of 1902 or to propose legislation to give 324 building grants to voluntary schools, unless and until the main parties interested have reached some sort of agreement. While the settlement of 1902 has failed to satisfy some ardent denominationalists and some of those who want complete public control, it has for the last 25 years freed educational progress from the bitterness of religious controversy which marked the preceding decade. I have not yet been approached by the representatives of any important interest suggesting any conference of responsible representatives. But the House can rest assured that I shall at any time be prepared to do anything in my power to facilitate an agreed solution.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that, although the settlement of 1902 removed many ancient difficulties, the new proposals, which are supported by his friends and mine, will add further and substantial difficulties in the raising of the school age; and is he also aware that the shifting of population has made great difficulties for the non-provided schools? In these circumstances, can he not see his way himself to get in touch with the authorities concerned, and seek a solution?
§ Lord E. PERCYIs it not a fact that, especially in rural areas, the accommodation for the school children who will be kept in school by the raising of the school-leaving age cannot be provided except by the non-provided schools? In view of that fact, is the right hon. Gentleman not considering what steps are necessary to provide the accommodation which will be required, especially in rural areas?
§ Sir C. TREVELYANThe conditions of providing the reorganised education are different in different areas. There are a good many areas that are already providing that, with the good will both of the voluntary authorities and of the local authorities, and I think, if a little of the goodwill asked for by the Archbishop of Canterbury is shown all over the country, that there is not going to be any great difficulty.
§ Lieut.- Commander KENWORTHYWill the right hon. Gentleman answer my question?
§ Sir C. TREVELYANMy hon. and gallant Friend is only considering one of 325 the factors which create a difficulty in the matter. If there were only one side to the question, something might be done. As my hon. and gallant Friend knows, there are two sides.
§ Lieut.- Commander KENWORTHYWhy not bring the two sides together?
§ Mr. THURTLEIn considering this question, will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that there is an intensely strong feeling throughout the country against any increase in the grants of public money for sectarian teaching?
§ Mr. A. A. SOMERVILLEDo the right hon. Gentleman's answers mean that he does not close the door to affording financial assistance to non-provided schools, in meeting the difficulties that the Hadow Report has brought forward?
§ Sir C. TREVELYANI think my answer is perfectly clear, and that is, that the Government cannot undertake to do anything unless and until the main parties interested have reached some sort of agreement.
§ Sir HERBERT SAMUELWhat has the right hon. Gentleman in view when he speaks of "the main parties interested"?
§ Sir C. TREVELYANI mean the leaders of the main religious bodies concerned, the local education authorities, and the teachers.
§ Sir AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINWill the right hon. Gentleman send a copy of the tribute which he paid to the Act of 1902 to the author of that Act, Lord Balfour? I think it would be interesting to him, in view of the controversy on the subject.
§ Sir C. TREVELYANrose—
§ Mr. SPEAKERWe must not have a debate.