§ 52. Mr. HARRISasked the President of the Board of Education how many local education authorities have prepared schemes in preparation for the raising of the school age and how many authorities have made no preparation therefor, up to the latest available date?
§ Sir C. TREVELYAN261 authorities have submitted programmes, of which 225 are complete, and 36 are partial or preliminary. Most of these programmes make provision for the situation which will result from the raising of the school-leaving age. I am not able to say how many of the remaining 56 authorities are or are not making preparations, but a large number are doing so.
§ Mr. HARRISIs the right hon. Gentleman prepared to say what number of authorities there are who will be in a position to provide the necessary school buildings?
§ Sir C. TREVELYANI think there is no doubt that there will be room for the increased population.
§ Lord EUSTACE PERCYIs it not a fact that many local authorities do not pretend to be able to complete the work necessary until 1936?
§ Sir C. TREVELYANThat depends upon what "necessary" means. What I said was that there would be room for the increased population.
§ Lord E. PERCYIn other words, there may be great overcrowding but there will be room!
§ Sir C. TREVELYANI shall give a good deal more detailed information when the Bill is brought in, but it is not the case that one need expect there will be great overcrowding. There will be a very great many authorities with their buildings ready, and there will be others—as there always would be others, whatever the date—who will not be ready.
§ Lord E. PERCYCan the right hon. Gentleman give me the name of one major urban authority which will be ready by March next year?
§ Sir C. TREVELYANI will give plenty of names when the Bill is discussed.
§ Mr. HARRISCan the right hon. Gentleman say approximately on what date the Second Reading of the Bill will be taken?
§ Sir C. TREVELYANThat is a question concerned with the Business of the House.