§ 4. Sir T. Beamishasked the Secretary of State for Defence, how many educacation authorities still refuse to allow recruiting liaison teams to visit schools; how many schools in each category are involved; if he is satisfied with the progress made during the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Minister of Defence for Administration (Mr. G. W. Reynolds)Eleven local education authorities—five fewer than a year ago—now bar visits. This involves 43 colleges of further education, 3 technical, 42 comprehensive, 93 grammar and 224 secondary modern schools. Although the figures have thus improved, I naturally hope that all authorities will in time agree to these visits.
§ Sir T. BeamishDoes the Minister not think that this discloses a shocking state of affairs which has persisted for far too long? Is there any reason at all why the names of these authorities which will not co-operate should not be published, so that they should try to justify their attitude?
§ Mr. ReynoldsThe authorities change from time to time, and are under political control. Most of the authorities which refuse to allow the Services in bar all employers from taking up time during the curricula of the school. They do not discriminate against the Services.
§ Mr. ManuelWhile congratulating my hon. Friend on his Answer, may I ask him to be sure to inform the whole of his Department that children go to school to be educated, not to listen to recruiting speeches?
§ Mr. ReynoldsPart of that education is rightly to give them ideas of various careers available. I must make the point again that most of the authorities which do not allow the Services in treat all employers in that particular way.
§ Mr. GoodhewWill the hon. Gentleman now answer my hon. Friend's question and tell us whether he will publish a list of names of the authorities which have refused?
§ Mr. ReynoldsIt has not been done in the past, and I see no point in doing it now. The authorities do change from time to time.