§ 25. Mr. Sorensenasked the President of the Board of Education whether a decision has yet been made as to providing courses of religious instruction for parents and others financed by the Board; with whom, or with what ecclesiastical organisations, this arrangement has been made; when it is to come into operation: and what theological syllabus or system is to be adopted for this purpose?
§ Mr. ButlerThe Board announced in Circular 1566 that they had decided to conduct courses of instruction in religious knowledge for teachers and others and to encourage other bodies to do likewise. The Board are actively engaged in planning their own courses and in this matter they hope to secure the co-operation of the Institute of Christian Education with whom they are already in communication. The courses will be undenominational in character and will probably centre upon one or other of the agreed syllabuses now in operation in many schools. It is not likely that the Board will conduct any course before April, 1942.
§ Mr. SorensenHas there been any consultation with the teachers' organisations respecting this particular departure?
§ Mr. ButlerAs the hon. Member will know, many teachers are members of the Institute of Christian Education, and I shall certainly see that an important step like this is taken with the knowledge and with, as far as I can get it, the cooperation of the teachers as a whole. I will bear in mind the point made by the hon. Gentleman.
§ Mr. Henderson StewartHas there been consultation with the Secretary of State for Scotland, and is this to be a national scheme or merely an English scheme?
§ Mr. ButlerI can answer only for my own responsibility, but I hope to keep in touch all the time with my right hon. Friend.