§ 16. Mr. Gowerasked the Minister of Education how many local authorities in England and Wales, respectively, conduct evening classes for adult students; and how many students enrolled for such classes during the winter session 1951–52.
§ Miss HorsbrughEvery local education authority in England and Wales provides evening classes which are or can be attended by adults. In the session 1951-52 there were 1,403,000 students over 18 years of age, including 1,175,000 over 21.
§ Mr. GowerMay I ask my right hon. Friend whether, in her view, and without taking account of professional bodies and organisations like the W.E.A., and so on, she considers that local authorities provide an adequate service for further education?
§ Miss HorsbrughI think the local authorities are, on the whole, providing an extremely good service.
§ Mr. J. JohnsonHas the right hon. Lady any evidence to suggest that her action in increasing fees last year has led to a diminution in the numbers attending evening institutes?
§ Miss HorsbrughNo, Sir; I am glad to say I do not think that that has occurred. In fact, in some cases I am told that the students, having paid slightly more, turn up more regularly.
§ 25. Mr. Swinglerasked the Minister of Education if she is now in a position to make a statement on the membership and terms of reference of the proposed committee of inquiry on adult education grants and on the reasons for the reversal of her decision to reduce these grants by 10 per cent.
§ Miss HorsbrughI am not yet in a position to answer the first part of the hon. Member's Question. As to the second part, I have nothing to add to the answer which I gave on 23rd April.
§ Mr. SwinglerHow soon does the Minister expect to be able to make an announcement? Are we to assume that she will take as long about her announcement of this matter as she took to slide out of her original ill-advised decision to make a 10 per cent. cut?
§ Miss HorsbrughI leave that entirely to the good manners and good sense of the hon. Gentleman.