§ Mr. EdeI beg to move, in page 15, line i8, to leave out from the first "of," to the end of the Sub-section, and to insert:
such number of persons, not being less than six, as the local education authority may determine:Provided that two-thirds of the managers shall be appointed by the local education authority and one-third shall be appointed by the minor authority.The hon. Member for West Lewisham (Mr. Brooke) will realise that this and the next Amendment, which covers a slightly different point, have been put down as the result of a discussion that took place in Committee in which he took part. It enables us, in cases where it is desirable, to increase the number of mana- 1805 gers from six to some larger number. This particular one deals with the problem of the county school. There are cases where it is desirable that not more than six persons should be appointed. Here they will have to be appointed in multiples of three.
§ Amendment agreed to.
§ Mr. EdeI beg to move, in page 15, line 28, to leave out from the second "of," to "and" in line 39, and to insert:
such number of persons not being less than six as the Minister may, after consultation with the local education authority, determine:Provided that—This deals with the extension of the number of managers of an auxiliary primary school. This is a little more complicated than the last because, if we had stuck to what was the original wording of the Bill, it would have been necessary to have multiples of six, and the next largest number of managers above six would be 12. I could think of cases where you might have more managers than children if that were brought about, so we have taken steps whereby this number also can be dealt with by multiples of three, and, where we get three managers to be appointed by the local authorities, two will be appointed by the county council and one by the minor local authority. This Amendment is the one with which the hon. Member for West Lewisham (Mr. Brooke) was rather more concerned, because it enables us to deal, it is hoped, with one of the difficulties in a single-school area in the way in which the foundation managers will be appointed when the number is more than six. As there will be then at least six foundation managers, it may be possible to arrange in suitable places, in a scheme for appointing managers, for one of the managers to be a person not of the same faith as that prescribed in the trust deed. There was some conversation on the point in Com- 1806 mittee and this will enable us to implement the suggestions that were then made.
- (a) if the school is an aided school or a special agreement school two-thirds of the managers shall be foundation managers, and if the school is a controlled school, one-third of the managers shall be foundation managers;
- (b) where the school serves an area in which there is a minor authority, then of the managers who are not foundation managers not less than one-third nor more than one-half shall be appointed by the minor authority and the remainder shall be appointed by the local education authority."
§ Mr. Henry Brooke (Lewisham, West)I am very much obliged to the Government for accepting this suggestion, and I should like to put on record my hope that advantage will be taken of this alteration in any denominational schools to which a substantial number of children go whose parents are not members of that denomination. It seems to me altogether desirable, now that the denomination may be able to appoint an increased number of foundation managers, that advantage of it should be so taken that at least one of the additional managers to be appointed shall be a person who can truly speak for those parents who send their children to the school but do not belong to the denomination concerned. It looks a small matter, but I can imagine cases where it would be a definite easement of some of our past difficulties.
§ Mr. Jewson (Great Yarmouth)I should like to express my welcome of the Amendment. I hope it will be the means of smoothing over some of the difficulties which have arisen in the past.
§ Amendment agreed to.