§ 8. Sir Waldron Smithersasked the Minister of Education if he is aware that one in every eight grammar schools in the Midlands cannot give proper religious instruction because of a shortage of Bibles; what is the position in schools as a whole; and what steps he is taking to remedy this shortage.
§ Mr. TomlinsonI have read statements in the Press to the effect indicated in the first part of the Question. They arose, I understand, from an interim report of an inquiry conducted by the University of Birmingham Institute of Education on the basis of information collected in 1948. I have no evidence of any present shortage of Bibles in the schools. The publishers assure me that they have large stocks of school Bibles and can meet any demand without delay.
§ Sir W. SmithersWill the Minister take steps to see that the schools are adequately provided?
§ Mr. TomlinsonI have already taken those steps.
§ Mr. G. ThomasIs the Minister aware that the complete responsibility for the requisitioning of text-books rests with head teachers of schools, and that if there is any difficulty in connection with Bibles a great many of us would soon help to obtain them?