§ 1. Mr. Geoffrey Hutchinsonasked the Minister of Education whether he is aware of the difficulty felt by the managers of voluntary schools in making application for aided status within six months of the receipt of notice of the making of the school development plan, as required by the Education Act, 1944, owing to the uncertainty of the date when new works at the schools can be carried out, and the present difficulty of estimating the cost of such works; and whether he will consider extending the time within which application for aided status may be made or taking such steps as may be necessary to relieve these difficulties.
§ The Minister of Education (Mr. Tomlinson)I am aware of the difficulty and it is to see whether there is any possibility of meeting it within the framework of the Education Acts that I am consulting with representatives of the denominations.
§ Mr. HutchinsonWill the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that in the discussions of which he has spoken these managers are being called upon to accept financial obligations which far exceed any estimate that could have been made in 1944?
§ Mr. TomlinsonThat is one of the things that I am not likely to be allowed to forget.
§ Mr. J. Langford-HoltCould the right hon. Gentleman tell the House when these discussions are likely to reach a conclusion?
§ Mr. TomlinsonNo, I cannot. I am waiting for a reply to representations which I have already made to them.