§ 30. Mr. EDEasked the President of the Board of Education what rate-aided secondary schools have applied for the services of a French assistant under Rules 56 of the Board for the school year 1931–32 and have been refused such an assistant?
§ Mr. LEES-SMITHThere are 15 cases in which rate-aided secondary schools have applied for the services of a French assistant for the year 1931–32, and in which it has not been found possible to grant the application.
§ 31. Mr. EDEasked the President of the Board of Education whether he is exploring the possibilities of extending to other countries in Europe, and particularly to Switzerland and Spain, the arrangements made under Rules 56 of the Board for seconding foreign assistants to English secondary schools?
§ Mr. LEES-SMITHMy Department has considered from time to time the possibility of extending these arrangements to other countries. It has not hitherto been found practicable to extend them either to Switzerland or to Spain.
§ Mr. EDEIn view of the great importance of the South American trade to this country, and the desirability of our having some knowledge of Spanish, will the right hon. Gentleman give particular attention to arranging these exchanges with Spain?
§ Mr. LEES-SMITHThe difficulty is, that no schools in England have asked for them.
§ Mr. EDEWill the right hon. Gentleman try to arouse them to a sense of their responsibility in this matter?
§ 33. Mrs. MANNINGasked the President of the Board of Education if he will state how many of the 91 French and German assistants seconded to English secondary schools in 1930–31 were employed in schools maintained by local education authorities?
§ Mr. LEES-SMITHOf the French and German assistants employed in the year in question, 84 served in schools maintained by local education authorities.