§ 47. Mr. Lewisasked the Minister of Education what improved educational services she has introduced during the past six months; and what improvements she proposes to introduce in the current year.
§ Miss HorsbrughMy main concern at the present time is to maintain and develop existing educational services, especially by securing the provision of accommodation and teachers for the growing numbers of children of school age, and such expansion of technical education as the resources available to me allow.
§ Mr. LewisIs the Minister aware that in the Tory Party's Election manifesto there was a definite promise that there would be an improvement in educational services, but that during the last eight months, since the Tories have been in power, there has been nothing in the way of improvement and that Circular 242 has meant a continual worsening in educational services? Is this another example of the way in which the Tory Government implement their promises?
§ Miss HorsbrughThere has been a continual improvement. More schools have been provided, more teachers have been brought into them to teach and more kitchens have been opened for feeding the children.
§ Mr. G. ThomasIs the Minister aware that one of the most serious defects in the educational service is the large size of classes, and does she agree that she has already indicated to the House that she anticipates that her policy will result in larger classes within the next 12 months?
§ Miss HorsbrughThe fact is that all the figures for large classes which I have had to give in the House refer to the size of classes when the last Government gave up office. I have inherited a large number of schools where there is an insufficiency of teachers, and I am now increasing the number of teachers as quickly as possible. But there is a lot to be done.
§ Mr. LewisIn view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, and of the fact that this is another broken promise, I beg to give notice that I shall take the first opportunity of raising the matter on the Adjournment.