§ 42. Mr. MORLEYasked the President of the Board of Education what action he proposes to take in the near future to secure that no class in a school recognised for grant-earning purposes by the Board of Education shall exceed the number of 40 scholars on a roll?
§ Mr. LEES-SMITHThe policy initiated by my predecessor in 1924, and consistently pursued since, has for its immediate objective the reduction to a maximum of 40 of all classes for senior pupils, and to a maximum of 50 of those for juniors and infants. Progress, which depends mainly on the provision of new buildings, has already been substantial, and more rapid progress may be expected as the result of the great acceleration of building which has occurred in the last 18 months.
§ Mr. MORLEYCan the right hon. Gentleman say what steps other than making reductions in the size of classes he proposes to take in order to find employment for those additional students who were induced to enter training colleges in the last few years on the understanding that places would be found for them?
§ Mr. LEES-SMITHThe reduction in the size of classes depends very largely upon the provision of building accommodation, and it is the programme of building accommodation which is being pressed forward upon which I am relying.
§ Captain GUNSTONCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether the objective will be reached more or less concurrently by the time we get a reduction in the number of scholars owing to the declining birth-rate?
§ Mr. LEES-SMITHI do not think there is any synchronisation like that.