§ 22. Mr. Markhamasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether, in accordance with the requirements of the Education Act, 1918,persons desirous of opening private schools give prior information of intention to the Board; and whether, in cases of non-compliance, any action is taken by the Board?
Mr. LindsayThe Education Act, 1921, which consolidates the provisions of previous Acts, imposes no statutory obligation upon persons desirous of opening private schools to give prior information to the Board. The last part of the question, therefore, does not arise.
§ Mr. MarkhamDoes not the Parliamentary Secretary think it advisable that prior information should be given in all instances?
Mr. LindsayThat raises the whole question of legislation with regard to private schools, on which I have given an answer on previous occasions.
§ 24. Mr. Markhamasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education to what extent local authorities exercise powers to compel persons desirous of opening private schools for children under the statutory school age to register such institutions; and how many local education authorities have made use of such powers?
Mr. LindsayI am unaware of any provision conferring upon a local authority powers to compel persons desirous of opening private schools to register such institutions.
Mr. LindsayAs I have said on a previous occasion, there was a recommendation in the Spens Report to that effect, and it is one of the questions which have to be discussed between the Board and the local education authorities.
§ Mr. LipsonIs it not a fact that some local authorities visit private schools?
Mr. LindsayThere is one local education authority which makes special provision with regard to ventilation and questions of that kind, but otherwise there are no special powers.
§ Mr. SorensenDoes the hon. Gentleman realise that the introduction of such legislation might prevent the setting up of schools of an experimental character?