75. Duchess of ATHOLLasked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of additional class and specialist teachers needed for the raising of the school age to 15 and for the complete re-organisation of the advanced divisions on the lines recommended in the Hadow Report; how long it would take to train the additional teachers required; the estimated cost of the additional staff, buildings, and equipment needed; and the estimated cost of maintenance allowances for the additional school year?
§ The LORD ADVOCATEAs regards the estimates asked for, I think I need not say more than that the Secretary of State is in agreement with the reply given to-day by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Education to a similar question. As to the period of training of class teachers and certain types of specialist teachers; a sufficient number would be immediately available. As for those types of specialist teachers whose number would have to be increased, the time ordinarily required to train them is three years.
Duchess of ATHOLLIn view of the fact that the President of the Board of Education did not give any reply to my question as to the estimated cost, may I ask whether, as we have been officially informed that the Government are working out schemes for the raising of the school age, it is not advisable that the estimated cost of these schemes should be made known before legislation is introduced?
§ The LORD ADVOCATEPerhaps I ought to have said that the Noble Lady would have received a reply to her question if she had been in her place to ask it. If she will await the reply which she will get in due course, I have no doubt that it will satisfy her.
§ Sir MURDOCH McKENZIE WOODAre we to understand that we cannot have this reform in Scotland until England has decided to have it also?