§ 56. Mr. P. OLIVERasked the President of the Board of Education how the estimated figure of £5 per head or thereabouts mentioned in the White Paper as likely to be incurred under the 603 Education (School Attendance) Bill upon the education of children aged 14 to 15 years, is allocated as between teachers' salaries, loan charges, administrative expenses, and other items of expenditure?
§ Sir C. TREVELYANI assume that the hon. Member is referring to the estimate of £2,500,000, given in the Financial Memorandum of the Bill, for the extra provision for educating the additional age group. This sum is allocated as follows:
| £ | |
| Salaries of teachers | 1,800,000 |
| Loan charges, maintenance of buildings, provision of books, and allowance for overhead charges | 700,000 |
§ 59. Mr. D. G. SOMERVILLEasked the President of the Board of Education which education authorities within the boundaries of Greater London have notified him that they will be ready to deal with the increased number of children necessitated by the Education Bill by the date mentioned therein, and which have failed to do so up to the present date?
§ Sir C. TREVELYANLocal education authorities have not been asked to notify the Board whether they will be ready to deal with the additional children to be retained in the schools under the Bill now before the House. All the authorities in Greater London, except the London County Council, Hornsey, and Wimbledon, have submitted complete or partial programmes for the three years 1930–33, which take account of the provision necessary for the additional children. These programmes suggest that, generally speaking, the necessary accommodation will be available, though it may not be possible to avoid temporary pressure in a few districts, particularly where extensive housing developments are taking place. It cannot be assumed that the authorities which have not submitted programmes making the necessary provision will, in fact, be unable to do so if the Bill become law.
§ Mr. SOMERVILLEIs it still the intention of the Government to launch this Bill when they know that numerous 604 authorities are not ready with the accommodation required or with the teachers?
§ Sir C. TREVELYANThat matter was discussed on Second Reading?
§ Mr. HARRISIs it not a fact that the greater part of the County of London has ample accommodation?
Duchess of ATHOLLIs it not the case that the right hon. Gentleman sent a letter to the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Brighton (Major Tryon) in Which he said that only 50 local authorities, which included none of the large authorities and no county authorities, will be ready or have said that they will be ready by 1st April next—
§ Sir C. TREVELYANI am afraid that I do not recall exactly the figures.
§ 62. Mr. OSWALD LEWISasked the President of the Board of Education the estimated amount of the burden falling upon the rates in England to meet the expenditure which would be incurred through the raising of the school age and in the provision of maintenance grants on the scale proposed; and whether he can supply the estimated figures for each county and city area in England?
§ Sir C. TREVELYANIn the Financial Memorandum on the Education (School Attendance) Bill I have given an estimate of the eventual additional charge on the rates in England and Wales. I am unable, however, to supply separate figures for England or for individual areas.
65. Duchess of ATHOLLasked the President of the Board of Education the substance of any representations made to him by the County Councils' Association in regard to the date of operation of the Education (School Attendance) Bill and any other provisions of the Bill?
§ Sir C. TREVELYANI have been informed by the Education Committee of the County Councils' Association that the earliest date for raising the school age should be 1st September, 1933, and that, in regard to maintenance allowances, they see no reason for a departure from the recommendations of the committee representing the local authorities.
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that unless pressure comes from above some of the county councils referred to in this question will not be ready by 1973?