§ 32. Mr. RAMSBOTHAMasked the President of the Board of Education in view of the fact that his Department is co-operating with the advisory committee of the land utilisation survey of Great Britain in using the services of scholars and teachers in completing the Ordnance Survey maps showing the distribution of cultivated pasture, woodland, and waste land in the country, if he will say whether this work is being carried on in every county; what is the reason for the employment of these teachers and senior scholars; whether they are qualified to do the work; whether this causes their abstention from classes during school hours; and whether this policy of employing school children on Government work is to be followed in other similar cases?
§ Mr. LEES-SMITHThe Land Utilisation Survey Advisory Committee is a voluntary organisation which is not engaged on the official Ordnance Survey or upon Government work of any kind. It has secured the co-operation of some local education authorities and schools, but its work is not being carried on in every county. The board are of opinion that the simple map-reading and home geography required by this work can be of great educational value to the children concerned, and such absences from the classroom as may be necessary for the work are only approved by His Majesty's inspector where he is satisfied, on educational grounds, that the time will be profitably used.
§ Mr. RAMSBOTHAMCould not this work be given to unemployed in preference to school children?
§ Mr. LEES-SMITHThis is work of an educational character. It is not work which could be given to the unemployed.