§ 33. Mr. Edeasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether his attention has been called to the promotion by certain local education authorities of clauses in Private Bills to confer on them powers similar to those recommended by the Departmental Committee on Private Schools; and whether he will promote legislation on national lines to give these powers to all county and county borough councils?
Mr. LindsayMy attention has been called to the matter referred to in the first part of the hon. Member's question. As regards the second part of the question, I can hold out no hope of Parliamentary time being at present available for what will be a complicated and probably contentious Measure. In addition, the local education authorities will be fully occupied, during the next few years in exercising the duties and powers conferred on them by the Education Act, 1936, and in giving effect to the other parts of the Government's policy of educational reform. I should, therefore, be reluctant to add to their burdens at the present time by legislation in the direction which the hon. Member has in mind.