HC Deb 02 June 1938 vol 336 cc2217-9
38. Mr. Tomlinson

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education how many classes in the elementary schools of England and Wales have classes of from 40 to 50 children on the roll, and how many of 50 and upwards on the roll?

Mr. Lindsay

On 31st March, 1937, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 43,547 classes in public elementary schools with over 40 but not can be regarded as having completed reorganisation in their areas. I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT a statement setting out the position on 31st March, 1937.

Mr. Tomlinson

Will the hon. Member ask his superior at the Board of Education whether it is not desirable to circularise the authorities, drawing their attention to the necessity for this, in view of the consultative committee's anticipated report on the senior schools?

Mr. Lindsay

I think it is perfectly well known to every local authority that it is desirable that they should go ahead with their plans for reorganisation as quickly as possible.

Mr. Leach

Will the reply include the names of those 40 authorities that have a clean bill of health?

Mr. Lindsay

Yes, Sir. I think that is so.

Following is the statement:

over 50 children on the registers, and 2,647 classes with over 50 children.

Mr. Tomlinson

Will the hon. Member submit to the President of the Board of Education a request that these figures should be again looked into with a view of absorbing unemployed teachers who might be employed if these classes were reduced in size?

Mr. Lindsay

I have said before that this is not a new issue. We are proceeding as fast as possible with reorganisation with a view to reducing the size of classes and, secondly, the decline in the school population is going to settle this matter automatically in the next few years.

Mr. Mabane

May I ask whether the figures in this respect show a progressive improvement on 1931?

Mr. Lindsay

They show a progressive improvement since 1931, as one would expect.

Mr. Edmund Harvey

Is the President proposing to issue a special order to local education authorities which have classes over 50, of whom there are over 2,000?

Mr. Lindsay

Special pressure is being brought to bear, I might almost say, every month on these local authorities by speeches and letters. We know precisely where they are, and we are adopting three or four different methods of dealing with them.