HC Deb 07 December 1939 vol 355 c818
66. Mr. Ede

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether he is aware that on Monday, 4th December, 1939, the rector of Oxted, Surrey, issued orders that all officially evacuated children attending Oxted Church of England school were to be excluded; what was the nature of the previous inquiry made of the Board by the rector, and the Board's reply thereto; and whether he will take steps, by legislation or otherwise, to give the local education authority power to compel the managers of voluntary schools to admit evacuated children?

Mr. Munro

My information is that the rector gave the orders referred to without the knowledge or consent of the other managers, that the managers, at a meeting held yesterday, formally expressed their disagreement with the rector's action and that, on their instructions, the evacuated children were readmitted to the school yesterday afternoon.

Mr. Ede

Will the hon. Gentleman bring to his hon. Friend's attention the last part of the question, so that local education authorities may be in a position to deal with other recalcitrant rectors who defy their managers?

Mr. Munro

Certainly, Sir.