§ 29. Mr. Sorensenasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether he has procured estimates of the elementary school population for each of the 10 years ahead, and the estimated number of teachers for the same period?
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education (Mr. Kenneth Lindsay)I would refer the hon. Member to Circular 1426 issued by the Board in April, 1933. This circular contains a report by the Government Actuary reviewing the estimate of the numbers of children in schools given by him in 1928 and carrying that estimate to 1948. The Board commended that report to the careful consideration of local education authorities as affecting the problem 2137 of accommodation, staffing and organisation of schools with which they have to deal. The hon. Member will appreciate that while it is possible in this way to form an estimate of the total number of children who will be in the schools, it is not possible to estimate the number of teachers with the same degree of accuracy. This must depend on variable factors such as changes in local distribution and organisation which cannot be forecast for so long a period. The Board, however, have the question under constant review in consultation with the local education authorities.