33. Mr. Bernard Taylorasked the Minister of Education if he can state the number of authorities who, by virtue of their population, will become excepted authorities under the Education Act, 1944; the number of borough and urban district councils who have made application to become excepted authorities; and when he will be in a position to give the answer to such applications.
§ Mr. ButlerThe number of authorities who, by virtue of their population or school population, have a right to become excepted districts, is 47; of this number 41 lodged the necessary claim with my Department before the 1st October. The number of borough and urban district councils which cannot claim, as of right, that their areas should be excepted districts, and which have claimed that they should be excepted districts, is 67. Paragraph 4 of Part III of the First Schedule requires that I should consult the local education authorities concerned, and as soon as I have considered such views as they may express, I will be in a position to determine the claims.