LINCOLN EDUCATION COMMITTEE (EMPLOYES). (Hansard, 21 January 1937)

HC Deb 21 January 1937 vol 319 cc328-9 328

§ 27. Mr. Leach
asked the President of the Board of Education whether the action of the Lincoln Education Committee in insisting that the whole of its employés shall reside within the city boundaries has his approval; and under what statutory authority are such conditions of employment enforced?

Mr. Stanley
I understand that the conditions as to residence mentioned in the question are to be incorporated in the contracts between the employés and the local education authority, subject to special consideration of cases where it is represented that they would cause hardship to existing employés. The inclusion of such conditions in contracts needs no statutory authority or official approval.

§ Mr. Leach
The Minister did not answer the first part of my question as to whether this practice met with his approval or not. I would like to ask him also what is the limit of power possessed by a local education authority over the bodies and souls of its employés?

Mr. Stanley
That is an entirely different question which perhaps the hon. Member will put down. With regard to the question whether I approve, I say that this is a matter for local decision, and whether I approve or not must depend on the circumstances of the locality.

§ Sir Percy Harris
Is not the right hon. Gentleman a partner in finding the expenses of teachers' salaries, and does he not think he is entitled, at any rate, to give a lead to local authorities against this interference with the lives of private individuals?

Mr. Stanley
It is definitely a matter that ought to be left to the localities.

§ Mr. Liddall
Can the right hon. Gentleman give the actual date of the appointment of this insignificant, unofficial and, therefore, irresponsible spokesman of Lincoln?

329

§ Mr. Thurtle
On a point of Order. I understood from a Ruling of yours the other day that epithets were out of order.

§ Mr. Speaker
The hon. Member was too quick for me.

§ Mr. Leach
Is it not very possible, indeed probable, that practices of this sort by local authorities will prejudice the quality of the material that goes to the teaching profession there? Does it not, therefore, become at once a matter of great importance to the Minister that he should deal with it?

Mr. Stanley
If it had that effect on the quality of the teaching profession it might become my business, but I have

Black List position on 31st December, 1935.
				Council Schools.	Voluntary Schools.	Total.
				A.	B.	C.	Total.	A.	B.	C.	Total.	A.	B.	C.	Total.
(1)	Original Totals	…	…	219	345	150	714	460	1,421	232	2,113	679	1,766	382	2,827
(2)	Removed from List on 31st December, 1935—
	(a) Closed or replaced	145	58	9	212	173	97	17	287	318	155	26	499
	(b) Defects remedied	33	185	72	290	134	709	93	936	167	894	165	1,226
	(c) Total	…	…	178	243	81	502	307	806	110	1,223	485	1,049	191	1,725
(3)	Number of Schools still in the Black List.^*	61	188	83	332	118	538	114	770	179	726	197	1,102
(4)	Removed from List on 31st December, 1934.	169	226	76	471	300	778	104	1,182	469	1,004	180	1,653

Black List position on 51st December, 1936.
				Council Schools.	Voluntary Schools.	Total.
				A.	B.	C.	Total.	A.	B.	C.	Total.	A.	B.	C.	Total.
(1)	Original Totals	…	…	219	345	150	714	460	1,421	232	2,113	679	1,766	382	2,827
(2)	Removed from List on 31st December, 1936—
	(a) Closed or replaced	145	62	10	217	177	106	18	301	322	168	28	518
	(b) Defects remedied	36	192	79	307	143	728	98	969	179	920	177	1,276
	(c) Total	…	…	181	254	89	524	320	834	116	1,270	501	1,088	205	1,794
(3)	Number of Schools still in the Black List.^*	58	182	75	315	104	507	107	718	162	689	182	1,033
(4)	Removed from List on 31st December, 1935.	178	243	81	502	307	806	110	1,223	485	1,049	191	1,725
^* These figures (other than the Grand Total) do not agree exactly with the difference between 1 and 2 (c) owing to (i) the original category having been changed in the case of a few schools, and (ii) some Voluntary Schools having been transferred to the L.E.A. since the issue of the Black List.