§ 20. Mr. TINKERasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education if he will state the number of written protests he has had against the putting into operation of Circular 1421; and is it his intention to modify it?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of EDUCATION (Mr. Ramsbotham)The Board have received about 1,600 protests against the putting into operation of Circular 1421. As has already been announced in Circular 1424, they have decided that no necessity has been shown for modification of the terms of the earlier Circular. The Board are of opinion that the criticisms which they have received indicate in general a failure to appreciate that the terms of the Circular leave the Board ample discretion for considering the proposals of particular authorities in the light of local conditions.
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSWill the Board of Education, whatever elasticity they may permit, insist upon the £400,000?
§ Mr. LLEWELLYN-JONESCan the Parliamentary Secretary state how many protests have been received from Welsh education authorities and other public bodies in Wales?
§ Mr. RAMSBOTHAMI cannot give particular information in regard to Wales, but I can inform the hon. Member that the protests from local education authorities and school governors have been comparatively few. The great majority of 898 the protests have come from branches of the Labour party, the Workers' Educational Association and its branches, the Trades and Labour Councils and Employés Associations, and from Women's Co-operative Guilds.
§ Mr. LLEWELLYN-JONESHas any protest come from the University of Wales or from any body representing all the educational authorities in the Principality?
§ Mr. RAMSBOTHAMI cannot answer that question without notice.
§ Mr. HERBERT WILLIAMSCan the Minister say how many of the people who made protests have taken the trouble to read the Circular?