HC Deb 17 June 1935 vol 303 cc20-1
41. Mr. McENTEE

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that the expenses, including travelling expenses and subsistence allowance, of witnesses of the committee set up by his Department to inquire into the provision of libraries in secondary schools, are being paid by an outside body and that the chairman of the committee of inquiry is a prominent member of that outside body; and whether he is satisfied that a committee of inquiry so constituted and financed is best calculated to give the most impartial advice to His Majesty's Government or to inspire public confidence in its findings?

The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of EDUCATION (Mr. Oliver Stanley)

The committee to which the hon. Member refers was set up, not by the Board of Education, but by the trustees of the Carnegie United Kingdom Trust. Its function is not to advise His Majesty's Government, but to report to the trustees.

Mr. McENTEE

Can the right hon. Gentleman say for what purpose the Trust will be inquiring into library ownership, and whether any special facilities are being given by his Department to this propaganda organisation in the making of such an inquiry?

Mr. STANLEY

In view of the association of the Andrew Carnegie Trust with libraries in general, it is not surprising that this is a subject in which the trustees are interested, and certainly the Board have offered every facility for co-operation in an inquiry in a subject in which they have such a great interest.

Mr. McENTEE

Is the Minister aware that the organisation concerned—I am not disputing all its good points—is actually a propaganda organisation and is carrying out a strong propaganda to mould public opinion in certain directions, and, in view of that fact, is it not a dangerous practice to give facilities for inquiry?

Mr. STANLEY

I must express my disagreement in, toto with the hon. Gentleman's assumption with regard to this body.