§ 65. Mr. Manderasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education the number of officials who have been removed from his Department since the beginning of the war; and to what extent it is proposed to return these to their duties now, in view of the decision to enforce the Education Acts?
Mr. LindsayEighty-one officials have joined the Forces;708, of whom 85 have subsequently returned, have been lent to other Departments, mainly the Admiralty. The large majority of these belong to clerical and subordinate grades. One hundred new appointments have been made. The Board's administrative arrangements have been recast to meet the new situation created by the war and the reductions to which I have referred are attributable in the main to the temporary cessation or curtailment of such activities as reorganisation, approval of school buildings, full inspections, courses for teachers, the National Fitness Council and certain statistical work. The Board's staffing requirements are under weekly review and if it is found that further staff is needed it will be secured.
§ Mr. ManderIs it not inevitable, in view of the Government's policy of enforcing the Education Act, that leading officials of the Education Department should go back there, and will the Minister see whether that can be done?
Mr. LindsayThe main problem is not as simple as that. Education is carried on by 315 local authorities. That is the main problem.
§ Sir H. WilliamsAre the statistical clerks to whom my hon. Friend referred keeping a record of those who are not being educated?
§ Mr. MaxtonHow have the 100 new staff been recruited if there are no Civil Service examinations?
Mr. LindsaySome have come in through the Ministry of Labour and some passed the Civil Service examinations which were held before the war started.