57. Mr. E. Harveyasked the President of the Board of Education the number of classes in public elementary schools in which there are more than 40 pupils; and what steps have been recently taken by the Board to induce local education authorities to reduce the size of these classes?
Mr. StanleyOn 31st March, 1936, the latest date for which figures are yet available, there were 49,621 classes in public elementary schools with more than 40 children on the books. The question of over-large classes is reviewed by the board annually in connection with the investigation of the teaching establishments of local education authorities, but otherwise no special steps have been taken in view of the rapid and continuous fall in the number of the larger classes in recent years.
§ Mr. E. J. WilliamsIs the right hon. Gentleman now prepared to reconsider the building programmes submitted by local authorities in 1931 in regard to blacklisted schools?
Mr. StanleyI am afraid that I do not understand the question. Any authority is at liberty to submit any building programme for this year.
§ Mr. WilliamsIs it not a fact that the Government held up the building programmes of local authorities?