§ 13 and 14. Dr. Edith Summerskillasked the Minister of Education (1) whether all children in the care of public assistance and charitable organisations, who show promise, are allowed to sit for a scholarship and then if successful receive a secondary education;
(2) if he will arrange for public assistance authorities and charitable institutions caring for children to report annually on the number of children receiving secondary education.
§ The Minister of Education (Mr. Butler)My Department has no statistics of the number of children in the care of public assistance authorities and charitable organisations who receive secondary education. From the coming into operation of Part II of the Education Act, 1944, on 1st April next, it will be the duty of public assistance authorities and charitable institutions, as of parents or guardians generally, to cause the children of compulsory school age in their charge to receive education suitable to their ages, 1537 abilities and aptitudes, and of local education authorities to secure that sufficient primary and secondary schools shall be available. In the circumstances, it would not appear necessary, at present at all events, to arrange for the suggested annual reports from these authorities and institutions.
§ Dr. SummerskillAm I to gather from the right hon. Gentleman's answer that no child, as far as he knows, cared for by these institutions for orphan and destitute children, has obtained a secondary education, irrespective of whether it has shown promise or not?
§ Mr. ButlerNo, Sir. This matter is very complicated. A great many of these institutions are under the Department of my right hon. and learned Friend the Minister of Health. In some cases the authorities or organisations run their own schools, and in some cases provide secondary education, and in other cases the children go to the public elementary schools under the present law, but also have a chance of secondary education.
§ Earl WintertonUnder these further regulations will my right hon. Friend's Ministry have any power to see that the form of education given in those schools, whether charitable or institutional, is up to the standard of the ordinary primary and secondary schools in the country?
§ Mr. ButlerIt is the case in so far as these schools come within the Ministry of Education, but it is somewhat difficult, as many of them come within the purview of my right hon. and learned Friend the Minister of Health. We shall see to it that children receive the kind of education which is suited to their particular abilities.
§ Dr. SummerskillCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether these schools are regularly inspected?