CLAUSE 39.—(General duties of local education authorities with respect to further education.) (Hansard, 9 May 1944)

§ Mr. Butler

I beg to move, in page 32, line 1, to leave out paragraph (a).

It would be convenient for the Committee, Major Milner, for me to describe here the second Amendment to this Clause standing in my name, as it is consequential. The effect of the Amend- 1750 ments is very simple. It is slightly to enlarge the categories included under paragraph (a) and paragraph (b) in the Clause as originally drafted. It would be convenient to read how the Clause will now run in respect of paragraphs (a) and (b), leaving out paragraph (c), which remains as before. Paragraphs (a) and (b) will be run together, and will read: Full-time and part-time education for persons over compulsory school age. The Amendments have been introduced to meet certain points which were brought up on Committee stage and should be read in conjunction with new Clause 78, which we put in during the Committee stage to empower local education authorities to make grants to universities and university colleges. This Clause links up with that new Clause and by ceasing to restrict subjects, as they are restricted in paragraph (b) of the Clause as originally drafted, it makes it easier to provide higher forms of education of a wider category than are included in the terms, "technical, commercial and art subjects." It links up with the opportunity that may be provided at universities and university colleges for people who desire higher ranges of education. The Clause is a great improvement on the Clause as originally drafted. It also deals with a point raised by the hon. and learned Member for Carmarthen (Mr. Hughes), on the question of an opportunity being afforded for further education through certain professional courses which may be undertaken, and by removing the restricting words in paragraph (b) of Clause 39 it enables such courses to be given if they are desired. Of course, it does not go so far as to say that article fees for solicitors or anything of that sort may be paid, but it provides the opportunity for pursuing the higher ranges of training in professional studies. Under the circumstances, the wider Clause is a better Clause than the original Clause. It was necessary to recommit the Clause, and I hope the Committee will feel that we have done our best to meet the criticisms which were put forward on the Committee stage.