§ 61. Mr. H. G. Williamsasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether he is aware that the average number of children in attendance at the public elementary schools this year is expected to be 608,000 less than in 1932–33, and that the estimated expenditure of the local education authorities is expected to be £11,374,000 higher, though the salaries of teachers have risen only by £5,074,000; and whether he can furnish any explanation for the increase of £6,300,000 in the other costs of elementary education?
Mr. LindsayThe increase to which my hon. Friend refers is primarily due to the programme of educational reorganisation and development consequent upon the adoption by the Government of the policy contained in the Hadow Report, and to the necessary preparations for the raising of the school-leaving age in 1939. Other contributory factors are the increased cost of special services which provide for the health of the school child, the expenditure necessary to replace black list schools, and the provision of new accommodation necessitated by the shifting of population in recent years. I must also remind my hon. Friend that in 1932–33 the economy measures necessitated by the crisis of 1931 were in full operation, and the expenditure of local education authorities was in most cases cut down to the minimum compatible with efficiency..
§ Mr. WilliamsHow long can we go on increasing the burden of local and national expenditure in this way, providing for an ever-diminishing number of children?
Mr. LindsayMy hon. Friend does not seem to appreciate that there is a very big change going on in the schools, to meet a public demand, and our concern is to meet this as economically as possible. Let me give an example. The average height of school children in Sheffield has increased since 1920 by 3¼ inches, and the average weight by 13¼ lbs.
§ Mr. WilliamsDoes my hon. Friend suggest that the general change in the average height and weight of the population, which is found in all classes, irrespective of the type of school to which they go, is due to the present extravagance of his Department?
Mr. LindsayI was simply concerned to show that one of the bigger items of our expenditure is the increased cost of special services; and I gave a practical example.
§ Mr. J. GriffithsCan the Parliamentary Secretary give the comparable increase in the cost of education, for the same period, of rich children in public schools?
§ Sir Gifford FoxIs my hon. Friend aware that some of these children, when they come to enlist, are found to be actually illiterate?
Mr. LindsayI think I know the single case to which my hon. Friend is referring. I am trying to trace it back to the school.