§ 46. Mr. Whiteasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether he has any information as to the extent to which local education authorities are co-operating in defining their attitude towards beneficial employment, in particular to what extent area committees have been set up to deal with such matters as the synchronisation of school terms?
Mr. LindsayThe Board's information indicates that a substantial measure of consultation on this matter between neighbouring authorities is going on. Instances of this are afforded by conferences which have been held by the authorities in Yorkshire (West Riding), Greater London, Lancashire and Staffordshire.
§ 53. Mr. Tomlinsonasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether, in order to facilitate the smooth working of the Education Act, 1936, in respect of the exemption clauses, he is prepared to consider the issuing of instructions to local education authorities embodying the principle of the unification of school terms?
Mr. LindsayThe fixing of school terms is a matter for the local education authorities and the Board have no authority to issue instructions on the point. They have, however, in their Circular 1457 drawn the attention of local education authorities to the convenience of a system of uniform school terms for neighbouring authorities.
§ Mr. TomlinsonWill the hon. Gentleman call the attention of his right hon. Friend to the fact that there are no education authorities which are not connected alongside other authorities, and that the necessity for this is imperative, if these regulations are to be carried out?
Mr. LindsayI can only say to the hon. Gentleman that that is not the view of the local education authorities. They have expressed no wish for central direction upon this point.