HC Deb 09 July 1942 vol 381 cc923-4
23. Mr. Edmund Harvey

asked the President of the Board of Education whether the terms of reference-of the Departmental Committee on public schools will permit the Committee to consider the future position of independent boarding schools not conducted for private profit which do not have membership in the Headmasters' Conference or in the Governing Bodies Association; and, if not, whether he will consider an enlargement of the terms of reference to allow for this?

Mr. Ede

The terms of reference, as announced, were calculated to define the meaning of the term "Public School" for the purposes of the inquiry. But the Committee will not be precluded from considering the circumstances of schools outside their purview in so far as they may be relevant to the subject of their inquiry.

Mr. Lipson

Will the inquiry include preparatory boarding schools?

Mr. Ede

That is covered in the last few words of my answer.

Mr. Harvey

May I take it that the inquiry will include experimental boarding schools, schools connected with various denominations, co-educational schools and others?

Mr. Ede

Yes, Sir, in so far as they are relevant to the general subject matter of the inquiry.

Sir Percy Harris

Why is it that the list is, for the most part, confined to schools patronised by the wealthy, and that many other very good schools are put in a lower category?

Mr. Ede

I am by no means sure that the category is lower.