HC Deb 30 March 1943 vol 388 cc21-3
26. Mr. Sloan

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware of the indignation aroused among parents in all parts of Scotland against the Memorandum he issued to education committees, recommending that children should be kept in schools during the month of August and receive their holidays in October, which is very often the worst month in the year for weather in Scotland; and whether he will immediately countermand the Circular?

Mr. Johnston

No, Sir. I have received no expressions of hostility to the proposals in the Memorandum referred to. On the contrary, I am assured that the proposals are receiving support from education authorities generally, from the teachers' organisations, and from the public Press. I propose, with the hon. Member's permission, to circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a full account of the recommendations sent to education authorities on this matter.

Mr. Sloan

Is my right hon. Friend aware that nothing has caused more trouble in education authorities than the Memorandum which was issued, and is he aware that the Educational Institute of Scotland is not favourable to the scheme?

Mr. Johnston

That is directly contrary to my information.

Mr. Gallacher

Are we to understand that the children are to get their summer holidays in October?

Mr. Johnston

No, Sir; that is not so.

Mr. Stephen

Are the children to be compelled to undertake this work?

Mr. Johnston

No, Sir.

Commander Galbraith

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the parents and the children are looking forward with great pleasure to doing this work?

Mr. Sloan

Is not my right hon. Friend aware that the implication of the Memorandum which he has issued is that, as potatoes are lifted in October, the children will get their holidays in October?

Mr. Johnston

No, Sir; that is not the statement in the Memorandum. There is to be a month's holiday, as usual, in midsummer, and a fortnight or some other time, as may be appropriate to the circumstances in different districts, to be staggered, later on.

Sir Alfred Beit

Is there really so much difference between the climate in Scotland in one month and in another?

Mr. Johnston

Yes, Sir.

Following are the recommendations referred to:

The Memorandum referred to was issued in connection with plans for the ingathering of the harvest next autumn, which are intended to enable schoolchildren of suitable age to give the greatest possible measure of help without loss of education. The arrangements are not intended to apply to children at the primary stage.

Children who are legally old enough to help the farmers should, it is recommended, have a proper holiday for, say, a month in the height of the good weather, and then should have another break later in the year when they can help with the grain harvest or the potato harvest, both of which fall outwith the normal period of school holidays. Only boys of 16 and over are wanted for the grain harvest. The later break is to be regarded not as an ordinary holiday, but as a period during which the children will be able to share in a vital form of national service.

The detailed arrangements in each area are to be made by the education authorities in consultation with the agricultural executive committees. These authorities, and the teachers' organisations, were fully consulted about the proposed arrangements. The representatives of the teachers, whose assistance is so necessary in safeguarding the welfare of the children, have pledged the co-operation of their profession.

I am sure that Scottish parents will recognise the immense national importance of the 1943 harvest and will encourage their children to help in securing the country's food supply in this critical year. Everything possible is being done to tap all alternative sources of harvest labour, but it is clear that without a wholehearted response on the part of the schools, the immense acreage which will be under crop this year cannot be harvested.