HC Deb 05 October 1938 vol 339 cc328-9
36. Colonel Wedgwood

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether he will take steps to bring the Staffordshire county education authority and the parents together under the supervision of the Board with a view to ending the school strike at Audley, which is holding up education in that area?

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education (Mr. Kenneth Lindsay)

It is the settled practice of the Board not to intervene directly in disputes between local education authorities and parents arising out of the reorganisation of schools. The Board would be ready, however, on the invitation of the Staffordshire authority, to arrange for the presence of His Majesty's Inspector at any conference which might be convened between the authority and representatives of the parents.

Colonel Wedgwood

Is the Board prepared to do anything in the matter or not?

Mr. Lindsay

I think my answer indicates that I hope it is. My answer was that we should be ready to arange, on the invitation of the authority, for the presence of one of our Inspectors.

Colonel Wedgwood

Thank you.