§ 27. Mr. Edmund Harveyasked the Minister of Labour what provision is being made for the demobilisation of teachers to meet the urgent need in the schools; and whether measures have been prepared to permit the return of lecturers and research workers to the universities in time to deal with the increased inflow of students which will follow upon a more general measure of demobilisation.
§ Mr. BevinProvision is made in the Government's plan for re-allocation of man power after the defeat of Germany for the early release from the Forces of men and women required for urgent reconstruction work. I am now in consultation with my right hon. Friends the Minister of Education and the Secretary of 398 State for Scotland regarding the application of this provision to school-teachers. The re-allocation scheme also provides for the release of a strictly limited number of individual specialists and it is open to the appropriate authorities to apply for the release of individual research workers in this category.
§ Mr. HarveyWould my right hon. Friend bear in mind that universities generally are in urgent need of a certain number of these lecturers to enable young officers and others demobilised from the Forces to go on with their educational work?
§ Mr. BevinYes, Sir, I am aware of the tremendous pressure from the universities, other educational authorities, and industry, in fact from everybody, to obtain the release of men, but I must keep in mind, as I stated earlier, that until victory is won, the need of the Forces must be paramount.
§ Professor SavoryWill the right hon. Gentleman also consult the Minister of Education for Northern Ireland?