HC Deb 24 October 1946 vol 428 cc17-8
26. Mr. Sparks

asked the Minister of Education to what extent school parties are encouraged to visit places of historical and educational interest; and what financial assistance is granted for this purpose to meet travel and other expenses.

Miss Wilkinson

Recommendations as to the value of such visits are made in the official Handbook of Suggestions for Teachers and the practice of arranging suitable visits is widespread. Reasonable expenditure, including the cost of transport, incurred by local education authorities on approved activities of this kind arranged as part of the ordinary school curriculum is recognised for grant from the Ministry at the standard rate.

Commander Maitland

Does the right hon. Lady realise that these visits have to be reported to His Majesty's Inspector sometimes in triplicate and sometimes duplicate before the term begins, and that this practice makes it very difficult for head teachers to arrange these visits? Will she look into this question and see whether head teachers cannot have more freedom to run their own schools?

Miss Wilkinson

I really do not think it is possible to give carte blanche to head teachers to arrange what school visits they like—[HON. MEMBERS: "Why not?"] With the very best will in the world, the work of the school has to go on, and on the whole we have not found that this system has worked badly. Of course, forms have to be filled in when grants have to be paid.

Mr. Kenneth Lindsay

May I plead with the right hon. Lady—[HON. MEMBERS: "No."] May I ask the right hon. Lady to reconsider this answer? I thought it had already been reconsidered. Would she have a second look at it? It is quite impossible to arrange, if the triplicate still obtains, these journeys and visits with the notice that very often has to be given. If a concert is suddenly coming to a place, it cannot be done.

Miss Wilkinson

I think the hon. Gentleman does not quite understand the position. It is possible to give in advance permission for, shall we say, a series of concerts or for certain programmes that may be put forward. I do not see any difficulty in filling in the form in triplicate. After all, there is such a thing as carbon paper.