§ 3. Mr. Swinglerasked the Minister of Education if, in view of the serious and rapid increase in the numbers of oversized classes, she will institute more frequent official checks of the numbers of such classes and publish the results.
§ Miss HorsbrughReturns of the number of oversize classes are collected annually. I do not think that any advantage would be gained by asking for more frequent returns.
§ Mr. SwinglerHas not the Minister considered that she could achieve something constructive? Is she aware that the most up-to-date figures are those for January, 1952, and that on the basis of previous experience we always have to wait for at least eight months to get the figures? Is it not possible to speed up the system of providing information, if it is impossible to have a more frequent check on the growth of the size of classes?
§ Miss HorsbrughI have looked into the possibility of speeding up the information, but it is rather difficult. These returns take some time to prepare, and to increase their frequency would be to add to the work of local authorities and of teachers. If I can speed it up, I shall be only too willing to do so, but I think the frequency of the returns does not help us to tackle the problem. We want to see the size of classes reduced. The frequency of the returns does not help us and it might give more work more often to the teachers.