HC Deb 30 June 1949 vol 466 cc1483-5
1. Mr. Piratin

asked the Minister of Education if he will give an estimate of the number of five-year-olds who entered school at the beginning of the present school year and of the number who were refused admission.

The Minister of Education (Mr. Tomlinson)

The number of children aged five and under entering primary schools, other than nursery schools, maintained by local education authorities during 1948 was 570,000, of whom rather less than half entered at the beginning of the present school year. I have no information as to the number of children who were refused admission, but it is estimated that 90 per cent. of the five-year-old age-group are in maintained primary schools in 1949, this being a higher percentage than in any other postwar year.

Mr. Piratin

In view of the concern at the fact that many five-year-old children have not been able to find places in schools, would the right hon. Gentleman try to ascertain what is the position because it may be that some local authorities have not provided him with all the information?

Mr. Tomlinson

That could hardly be the case, since the information provided shows a better result than any we have had in previous years. We are, however, concerned about the matter and we do seek information.

2. Mr. Piratin

asked the Minister of Education in view of the legal responsibility of parents to send their children to school at the age of five years, what similar responsibility rests with the local education authorities to provide places and facilities to such children; and to what penalties are local education authorities subject if they fail to provide places for such children.

Mr. Tomlinson

Section 8 of the Education Act, 1944, puts on local education authorities the duty of securing that there shall be available for their area sufficient schools for providing primary education. If any local education authority fails to discharge that duty, the penalty in the last resort is an order of the Minister enforceable by mandamus under Section 99 (1) of that Act. Under Regulation 15 of the Education (Local Education Authorities) Grant Regulations, 1948, it is a condition of grant that the Minister shall be satisfied that the authority have complied with the requirements imposed on them by or under the Act, and if he is not satisfied he may withhold or make a deduction from the grant.

Mr. Piratin

Does the right hon. Gentleman recall that a short while ago I drew his attention to a certain education authority which had acknowledged that it had not provided places for five-year-old children? What steps is he taking to ensure that such authorities carry out their duties?

Mr. Tomlinson

In that particular case, inquiries showed that the five-year-old children were admitted in the term immediately following their reaching that age.