24. Miss RATH BONEasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education to what extent the estimate of 8¾ million pounds put forward by Mr. Fisher in 1918 as the cost of compulsory day continuation schools for young people from 14 to 18 years of age would be reduced if brought into line with the present level of prices?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of EDUCATION (Mr. Ramsbotham)No estimate has been prepared of the probable cost under present conditions of a system of compulsory day continuation schools for young people from 14 to 18 years of age, but, generally speaking, in view of the change in the level of teachers' salaries since the War, I should expect such an estimate to show an increase rather than a decrease as compared with an estimate prepared in 1918.
§ Miss RATHBONEWill the Minister undertake to supply figures showing definitely the increase in salaries?
§ Mr. RAMSBOTHAMIt is very difficult to give an approximate figure of cost. Teachers' salaries had in 1918 been raised only very slightly over the pre-War level, and have since then been increased by more than 50 per cent.