§ 33. Sir John Mellorasked the President of the Board of Education whether schools which relinquished direct grants from the Board after Circular 1259, in exchange for increased grants from local education authorities, will be restored to the direct grant list should their governing bodies so desire.
§ The President of the Board of Education (Mr. Butler)My hon. Friend will appreciate that the responsibilities of local education authorities and the position of schools financially dependent on them would be materially affected by the present Education Bill. The conditions of recognition for direct grant have yet to be considered. I cannot, therefore, undertake that schools should be given the option of transferring to direct grant status, but my hon. Friend may take it that, in appropriate circumstances, they will not be precluded from representing a case for consideration.
§ Sir J. MellorWill my right hon. Friend bear in mind that it was not the intention of the Circular that these schools should suffer any loss of status? Would it not, therefore, be unfair to deprive them of their right to charge fees?
§ Mr. ButlerPerhaps the hon. Gentleman will do me the honour of reading the speech I made on Second Reading. He will see that I made a reference to this matter. His remarks are not very much to the point if he reads my speech.