HC Deb 20 February 1958 vol 582 cc1367-8
4. Mr. Janner

asked the Minister of Education whether his attention has been called to the action of some heads of infants' schools who are insisting that all pupils should wear some form of uniform; and whether he will issue instructions to such heads deprecating this practice.

Mr. Geoffrey Lloyd

This is a matter for the local education authority.

Mr. Janner

Will the right hon. Gentleman give some indication to the local education committees as to what he feels about it? Does he realise that this is a big imposition on many parents who do not want their children to be regarded as different from others in the school? If the right hon. Gentleman is not prepared to do something about it in this manner, is he prepared to recomment to the Treasury that it should pay the difference between the cost of the children's normal wear and that of their school uniform?

Mr. Lloyd

I hoped the hon. Member might be satisfied if I said that this is a matter for the local education authorities. I think it is properly a matter for them. At the same time, it is very rare for infants to have a uniform and this seems right to me.

Mr. Speaker

Miss Burton.

Mr. Janner

On a point of order. Will the Minister be good enough to say what he meant by, "This seems right to me"?

Mr. Speaker

Not now. We have passed from that Question.