HC Deb 18 December 1934 vol 296 cc938-40
5. Mr. LEONARD

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that the rector of Lenzie Academy, Dumbartonshire, has been suddenly deposed from his post without warning or hearing by the Education Committee of the County Council of Dumbarton; whether he will intervene until inquiry has been held and/or the matter tested in the Law Courts; and whether he will consider an amendment of the administrative scheme of the county council in so far as it requires his approval in order to prevent a recurrence of such arbitrary action?

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

I understand that the Education Authority of Dumbartonshire have decided, after what they deemed sufficient inquiry, to transfer the rector of Lenzie Academy to a less responsible post in another secondary school. The Department are entitled to intervene only where a teacher has been dismissed, in accordance with the procedure prescribed in Section 21 of the Education (Scotland) Act, 1908, and Section 24 of the Education (Scotland) Act, 1918, and appeals to the Department under the former of these provisions. This situation has not arisen. With regard to the last part of the question I see no reason to suggest to the county council the advisability of any amendment of their administrative scheme, the terms of which in so far as they affect this question are found in a number of approved schemes throughout the country.

Mr. LEONARD

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that in this matter the county council works through the Education Committee and through a Teachers' Committee, that they delegated the question to a group who only investigated it last January, and that even the vice-chairman of the county council has been refused information as to why this action has been taken? Is the hon. Member aware of the intense indignation locally and also in educational circles at this arbitrary action, and does he not think that something should be done in the matter?

Mr. SKELTON

It would seem to be a purely domestic question for the popularly-elected representatives who control the education questions which come under their purview, and I should be very loth to interfere without any locus, and the Statute gives us no locus, in a purely domestic matter.

Mr. MAXTON

Is not this action quite unprecedented in the whole history of Scottish education, and has the Department made any investigations in the matter? Have any of the inspectors of schools visited the school and have they taken any steps at all to inform themselves as to the circumstances?

Mr. SKELTON

In regard to any action taken by the inspectors of schools, I shall require notice of the question. The hon. Member will realise that this is a matter dealing with teachers within the limitations which I gave in my answer. It is purely one for the educational authorities, and I have not, nor has the Department, any locus to deal with a matter of this sort.

Mr. MAXTON

Has not the Secretary of State for Scotland, through his inspectors, the general duty of investigating the whole circumstances of Scottish education and to see that teachers, pupils, and everybody else are being properly treated?

Mr. SKELTON

That is true, but the inspector of schools has not the duty, so far as I understand the law, of interfering with a decision of the local education authority in the placing of teachers.

Mr. LEONARD

Is it not the case that the regulations under which these schools work are under the hon. Member's jurisdiction, and is it not the case that this rector has been deposed because of the too strict adherence to the regulations?

Mr. SKELTON

On that point, I should require notice. It does not arise out of the question on the Order Paper. With regard to the regulations, I have dealt with that fully in my answer to the second part of the question.

Mr. MAXTON

Will the hon. Member inform himself as to the circumstances so that he can give us information?