HC Deb 29 November 1951 vol 494 cc1687-8
2. Miss Irene Ward

asked the Minister of Education whether, in view of the need for economy and the delays which must necessarily occur in the replacement and rebuilding of voluntary schools which have been surrenderd as a result of the financial obligations imposed on the churches in the 1944 Act, the take-over can be delayed until such time as the schools are to be actually dealt with.

The Minister of Education (Miss Florence Horsbrugh)

I assume that my hon. Friend refers to the fact that voluntary schools become controlled schools after the authority's development plan has been approved, unless the managers or governors apply within six months for their school to become aided. This is a statutory requirement, and Section 15 (2) of the 1944 Education Act gives me no power to extend the period of transitional maintenance.

Miss Ward

Is my right hon. Friend aware that some big economic changes have intervened since 1944, and is it possible to make some provision in order to meet this situation? Could it not be done by the operation of a statutory provision?

Miss Horsbrugh

I think my hon. Friend is referring to the fact that there might be further delays in building programmes, but those delays would really be of assistance to the voluntary schools, because, when an application is put in for aided status, in considering the various points. I should consider how much time was likely to elapse before a building programme had been carried out, and to see if it would not, therefore, be possible for the managers or governors to accumulate resources for the work.

7. Mr. Ede

asked the Minister of Education when, and with whom, she will discuss the extension, within the framework of the Education Acts, of the assistance at present available to voluntary schools.

Miss Horsbrugh

As the right hon. Member knows, some discussions have already taken place, and I hope to proceed with these as soon as possible. Among those to be consulted I should naturally include the denominations, the local authorities and the teachers' associations.