§ 38. Mr. Sorensenasked the Minister of Education to what extent financial and other assistance is being, or will be given, to public education authorities towards arranging visits of British children to the Continent; and to what extent such visits are likely to take place this year.
§ Mr. HardmanExpenditure properly incurred by local education authorities in assisting visits to the Continent is recognised for grant by the Ministry. No estimate can at present be given of the probable number of such visits this year. The newly established Central Bureau for Educational Visits and Exchanges is now surveying the work being done in this field.
§ Mr. SorensenCan my hon. Friend say whether education authorities have arranged with bodies abroad to provide suitable accommodation for these prospective visitors?
§ Mr. HardmanThe local authorities and the other bodies concerned are working through the Central Bureau, but I am afraid that we have not yet got a complete picture of the situation.
§ Mr. LipsonCan the Parliamentary Secretary say what is the percentage of grant being made, and can he give an assurance that no local authority will be prevented from sending children abroad because the grant is insufficient?
§ Mr. HardmanI am not prepared at once to give the percentage of grant which comes from the Ministry. I can assure the hon. Member that if we do find that the percentage is too small we shall certainly rectify it, because we believe very much in this work.