HC Deb 10 November 1932 vol 270 cc488-90
23. Sir WILLIAM JENKINS

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education if the pupils who are now at the secondary schools, and under agreement to remain for the period prescribed and at the same fees, will be asked to contribute a higher fee, or is Circular 1421 only applicable to new entrants?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of EDUCATION (Mr. Ramsbotham)

I would invite the attention of the hon. Member to paragraph 6 of Circular 1421. In cases where an in- creased fee is approved, it will be for the Local education authority or governing body to consider whether the terms of the agreements with the parents of fee-paying pupils, who are already in the school, admit of an increased fee being charged to them, and if they do, whether the increased fee shall actually be charged. The right of existing free place pupils to continue to receive their education free of charge is preserved by the Regulations.

Mr. RHYS DAVIES

Does the reply actually mean that a child now enjoying a free place can be compelled, under the Regulations, to pay a fee in respect of the same place?

Mr. RAMSBOTHAM

I have already answered that in the last part of my reply: "The right of existing free place pupils to continue to receive their education free of charge is preserved by the Regulations."

Mr. MORGAN JONES

Is the means test, which is related to this subject, a test applied to the family or a parental test?

Mr. RAMSBOTHAM

I do not think that that arises out of the answer.

28. Sir PERCY HARRIS

asked the President of the Board of Education whether since the introduction of fees into Bradford secondary schools there has been a decrease in the number of entrants; and how the number of entrants into secondary schools there, in September of this year, compares with the number in the same month last year?

Mr. RAMSBOTHAM

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The number of entrants to secondary schools in Bradford which were previously free was 793 in September of this year as compared with 1,034 in September, 1931. It would be incorrect to infer that this reduction was in any way connected with the introduction of fees.

67. Mr. NEIL MACLEAN

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has considered the proposals submitted to him by the Glasgow town council to charge fees in the secondary schools in that city; in what respects the proposals constitute changes from the present methods; and whether he will publish such proposals prior to any definite action being taken to enforce them?

The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for SCOTLAND (Mr. Skelton)

My right hon. Friend has these proposals under his consideration. At present fees are charged in five out of the 23 secondary schools in the Glasgow area. The corporation now propose to charge fees in all these schools, subject to a, provision of 20 per cent. free places in the 18 schools in which fees are not now charged. As to the last part of the question, there is no statutory duty on the Department to publish the proposals, but I shall be glad to send the hon. Member the names of the schools therein mentioned.