§ 29. Sir John Graham Kerrasked the President of the Board of Education, in view of the contemplated expenditure of nearly £300,000,000 annually upon school education in England and Wales, what steps he has taken to consult industry and commerce in order to secure that the expenditure will make available the best possible preliminary training for their recruits.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education (Mr. Ede)I am not clear as to the basis of my hon. Friend's estimate of £300,000,000, which is substantially in excess of any estimates so far made. The many discussions which my right hon. Friend and his Department have had with representatives of various interests on the Education Bill after its first introduction included a number of discussions with representatives of industry. As my right hon. Friend has indicated, it is his intention that the Central Advisory Councils proposed under the Bill should provide for the representation of industry and commerce.
§ Sir J. Graham KerrWhile thanking my right hon. Friend for his answer, may I ask if the House could have the assurance that he attaches the greatest importance to the fact that the wherewithal must come, in the long run, from the trade and industry of the country?