§ 39. Mr. Rhys Daviesasked the Minister of Education whether he has considered a communication from the Union of Lancashire and Cheshire Institutes complaining that there is such a shortage of school text-books that parts of their work may be brought to a standstill unless there is an improvement soon in the supply; and what reply he has tendered.
§ Mr. EdeThe communication from the Union of Lancashire and Cheshire Institutes has been received. As indicated in the reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Cheltenham (Mr. Lipson) on 12th October, my right hon. Friend's efforts have been constantly directed towards securing a larger allocation of paper for educational books and it is hoped that the additional tonnages recently granted for this purpose will before long result in better supplies of text books.
§ Mr. DaviesWill the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that people cannot understand all these large and glowing promises about extended educational facilities when they cannot get text books to get on with the job?
§ Mr. CoveIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the allowances recently granted are entirely inadequate, that the Publishers Association is bitterly disappointed, and that it is still true that essential text books for examination in secondary schools are not available for the children?
§ Mr. EdeThe question of the actual allocation of paper is not a matter for my Department. We have made representations to the appropriate Department and an increase has been granted.
§ Mr. CoveDoes the right hon. Gentleman realise that in a large number of secondary schools the examination sets certain text books to be studied and that they are not available?
§ Mr. EdeI understand that my hon. Friend the Member for Aberavon (Mr. Cove) has had some conversation with my right hon. Friend, as a result of which further negotiations are taking place, and I understand that through my hon. Friend's intervention, interviews are 2109 now being arranged with various interested parties to see if the situation can be improved.