HC Deb 22 October 1953 vol 518 cc2131-3
20. Mr. Lewis

asked the Minister of Education whether, in view of the unsatisfactory manner in which certain private schools are being conducted, she will introduce the necessary legislation to ensure that these establishments can only be operated under licence from her Department after inspection by, and periodical investigation of same, by qualified school inspectors.

23. Mr. J. Johnson

asked the Minister of Education when it is her intention to bring into operation Part III of the Education Act, 1944, which provides for compulsory registration of independent schools.

Miss Horsbrugh

I do not think that it is yet practicable, and I cannot forecast when it will be practicable, to operate the system of registering independent schools provided for in Part III of the Education Act, 1944.

Mr. Lewis

In view of the appalling disclosures in the "Sunday Pictorial" only this week—[Laughter]. It is nothing to laugh at. If hon. Members think it is funny they should read some of the cases which are frequently reported in the Press about a number of these disgusting schools, not the better known ones, but those which are set up by people who have disreputable characters. As there is unanimous opinion on both sides of the House, will the right hon. Lady implement the part of the 1944 Act concerned? Is it not urgent?

Miss Horsbrugh

Enormous administrative changes would be required to implement such provisions, and we cannot tackle the task at the moment. We should need complete registration and have to set up a tribunal to hear appeals. As the hon. Gentleman no doubt knows, any local education authority can at the moment prosecute parents if their children are not having sufficient full-time education. It must be remembered that the local education authorities have that power.

Mr. Johnson

Has the right hon. Lady forgotten the saying of a famous predecessor of hers, Mr. George Tomlinson, that it is easier to open an independent school than a fish and chip shop? In view of the disclosures not only by the "Sunday Pictorial" but also by the Surrey County Council Director of Education, Mr. Beloe, will the right hon. Lady allow local education authorities, where they desire to do so, to appoint one—only one, please—inspector to investigate the conditions and to licence schools in their areas?

Miss Horsbrugh

I know the difficulty to which the hon. Member refers, but no official communication has reached me from the Surrey County Council. The report they made out was taken from the reports of Her Majesty's inspectors. Naturally, some of the reports were prepared three years ago and there have since been certain changes. The schools are inspected and we get the reports. I shall very seriously consider any official communication that I receive from Surrey.

Mr. Ede

Can the right hon. Lady say what effect is given to the reports which are received from Her Majesty's inspectors and how many schools have been closed as a result of hostile reports?

Miss Horsbrugh

As the right hon. Gentleman knows, we have at present no power to close schools. We should have to bring in Part III of the Act and set up a tribunal to which the schools could appeal. As I have said, local education authorities already have certain powers. Although there are some schools of this kind, we ought not to exaggerate the problem. There are a number of independent schools which are recognised as being efficient, and we know many schools which would probably be recognised but which have not asked for recognition.

Mr. Ede

Has the right hon. Lady any statistics to show how many schools ought to be recognised as inefficient?

Miss Horsbrugh

I have looked at the summary of reports by Her Majesty's inspectors, but I should not like to give any figures relating to the reports or state what our views are. As the right hon. Gentleman well knows, we have not at present the power to close such schools, and to have the power to do so we should have to bring into operation Part III of the Act and set up a tribunal.