§ 21. Mr. Swinglerasked the Minister of Education if he will now fix target dates for the reduction of primary and secondary classes to maxima of 40 and 30 pupils apiece, respectively.
§ Mr. Geoffrey LloydNo, Sir. It would be quite unrealistic to fix a date at present.
§ Mr. SwinglerIs not it a little unrealistic for everybody to continue paying lip-service to this? Is not the situation that, although there are decisive differences in many fields of education policy, this is a reform for which there is common consent and to which everybody 392 pays lip-service, and it is one of the most important things that we should achieve? Would not it be an expression of common determination to recruit sufficient teachers and build sufficient schools if the Ministry now set a date for the achievement of this important objective?
§ Mr. LloydIn the case of primary school classes, there has, of course, been considerable progress in the last few years in reducing the number of over-large classes, but the progress in respect of secondary schools is not nearly so great.