§ 58. Mr. THORNEasked the President of the Board of Education whether he has considered the communication and resolution in regard to the Education Bill from the Lancashire district secretary of the National Union of General and Municipal Workers, and whether he can state the nature of the reply given?
§ Commander SOUTHBY (Lord of the Treasury)I have been asked to reply. This resolution which requested the withdrawal of the exemption clause from the Education Bill and suggested that provision should be made for maintenance allowances in respect of children attending school between the ages of 14 and 15 years has been considered by my right hon. Friend. No reply beyond an acknowledgment was considered necessary.
§ Mr. THORNEIs the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that the reply was neither dated nor signed, and may I ask 2132 him if that is the usual way of answering correspondence?
§ Commander SOUTHBYIf there are any further points which the hon. Member desires to raise, perhaps he will put another question down.
§ Mr. THORNEThe reply had no date or signature, and I am asking if that is the usual way of answering correspondence. If a trade union official did that sort of thing, he would get the sack to-morrow.
§ Mr. H. G. WILLIAMSWas not the communication similar to that which many of us receive and which all came from the office of a propaganda centre?