HC Deb 20 July 1939 vol 350 cc705-6
37. Mr. Edmund Harvey

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether, seeing that the percentage of university students who began their education in public elementary schools has fallen from 42 per cent. to 40.7 per cent. as compared with the previous year, he can explain this decrease?

Mr. Lindsay

The figure of 42 per cent. quoted in the hon. Member's question relates to the year 1934– 35, but I am not clear from what source the figure of 40.7 is derived or to what year it relates. The hon. Member will find the latest available information on this subject in the return issued by the University Grants Committee this year.

Mr. Harvey

Is the Parliamentary Secretary satisfied that there has not been any decrease in the percentage of students who begin their careers in elementary schools; and is that not a matter of concern to the Board?

Mr. Lindsay

It would be a matter of concern but I can find no figure which confirms the hon. Gentleman's suspicion. It is difficult to get a complete figure because, in some cases, students from overseas are included, and in some cases they are not. I am trying to get a reliable figure.

Mr. Bracken

If the hon. Gentleman can find a figure, is it not an encouraging sign that the standard of intelligence, of this country is rising rapidly?

Mr. Lindsay

I should not have thought there was any doubt about that at the present moment.