55. Mr. DAVIDSONasked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware of the crowding of working-class children in the elementary schools in Glasgow; and will he take immediate steps to place education on a non-class basis?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for SCOTLAND (Lieut.-Colonel Colville)I am informed there is a certain number of large classes in the Possilpark District of Glasgow, but in no case is the Code limit exceeded. The education authority have given close attention to the question of accommodation and staffing. A year ago there were 915 classes in Glasgow with a roll of over 50. The number is now reduced to 481. A new regulation reducing the maximum to 50 will come into force next August. Since 1926 Glasgow has built 27 new schools, and plans for a further 10 are already prepared. With regard to the last part of the question, there is no class distinction in the provision of public education in Scotland.
Mr. DAVIDSONIs the hon. and gallant Member aware of the fact that there are still many classes in the working class districts of Glasgow of more than 50 pupils, and that in the secondary 1100 schools and universities the distinction is laid down that the number of pupils are to be educated in classes much less in number. Is not that class distinction?