§ 37. Mr. Hannahasked the Prime Minister whether he will consider setting up a Royal Commission on Education, with a view to co-ordinating all our educational facilities, especially the public schools, in order to give every child the best opportunities which he or she is capable of using and to secure for the community the services of the best brains that every family in the country can produce?
§ Mr. AttleeNo, Sir. My right hon. Friend is satisfied that in present circumstances it would not be possible to secure the services of those representative persons who would be required to form such a Commission as is suggested. Nor does he consider that a Royal Commission would afford the best means of considering this matter. Education constitutes one aspect of the general problem of national reconstruction which, as my hon. Friend is aware, is under the consideration of the Government.
§ Mr. HannahIs there not a real danger of some of the admirable small schools, such as Birkenhead, coming to an end altogether in the present strenuous times?
§ Sir Annesley SomervilleIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that public schools are only too anxious to provide their educational facilities for boys from any section of the community who are qualified to take advantage of them?
§ Mr. AttleeNo doubt my hon. Friend the Member for Bilston (Mr. Hannah) was quite correct, but to set up a Royal Commission would not deal with either of those two points.