§ 19. Mr. W. J. Brownasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that a shortage of exercise books, stationery, drawing instruments, etc., is handicapping the work of schools and technical colleges, and whether he will take steps to increase the supplies available.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education (Mr. Ede)I have been asked to reply. The work of the schools and technical colleges is inconvenienced by the shortage of exercise books, stationery and drawing instruments, but the shortage is not at present so severe as to jeopardise its efficiency. My right hon. Friend fully appreciates the importance of the matter and is keeping it under review, but he does not consider that he would be justified in pressing the Ministers responsible for the supply of those articles to increase the supplies available for educational needs. There is a general restriction of supplies necessitated by war requirements and any improvement in the Board's quota could only be made at the expense of other important services.
§ Mr. ThorneIs my hon. Friend aware of the shortage of lead pencils required for this class of work?
§ Mr. EdeThe shortage is generally in this type of supply, but up to the moment no serious inconvenience has really been caused.
Viscountess AstorIf the hon. Gentleman will take a look at some of the bookstalls he will see some really disgusting things that are being printed now; and will he put a stop to this sort of thing and help to provide more books that are educational—even Bibles would be better than some of the filth displayed on the bookstalls?
§ Commander Locker-LampsonDo not books come before bombs in this country?