HC Deb 20 February 1964 vol 689 cc1371-2
7. Sir B. Janner

asked the Minister of Education if he is aware that any person may open a private school without inquiry as to his qualifications or background; and whether he will seek to amend the law in this respect.

Sir E. Boyle

Under the provisions of Part III of the Education Act, 1944, all independent schools must be registered with the Registrar of Independent Schools. Registration is refused if the person seeking to open such a school is already disqualified by an unconditional Order from being the proprietor of an independent school or from being a teacher in any school. I have, moreover, powers to disqualify, subject to appeal, any person who I am satisfied is not a proper person to be the proprietor of an independent school from so acting. I do not think that the law needs amendment in the way suggested.

Sir B. Janner

I thank the right hon. Gentleman for his reply. Is he aware that quite recently there was a case in which a person, who had posed as a priest and who had been sent to prison for 12 months, opened a school without any of the parents having this knowledge, and that he had to close the school when this was found out? Can the right hon. Gentleman say how such an occasion could arise without the intervention of the Ministry of Education?

Sir E. Boyle

If the hon. Gentleman will send me details of that case, I shall certainly look into it. Section 71, which was put into effect when my right hon. Friend the Lord President of the Council was Minister in 1957, is an effective Section, and I believe that on the whole it operates efficiently in the public interest.

Sir B. Janner

Would the right hon. Gentleman say, if such a case did arise, as I am assured it did, how this was possible? Is it due to the fact that proper investigation was not made into the background of the individual who applied to open the school?

Sir E. Boyle

I must ask to be excused from commenting on a particular case when I have not the details before me.