§ THE LORD ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY moved to resolve, That in accordance with the Church of England Assembly (Powers) Act, 1919, this House do direct that the Diocesan Education Committees Measure, 1943, be presented to His Majesty for the Royal Assent. The most reverend Primate said: My Lords, I rise to move the Resolution standing in my name on the Order Paper. The Measure to which the Resolution refers deals with a very simple piece of machinery. It aims at providing for the appointment of diocesan education committees and defining their powers and duties. In nearly every diocese there is already an education committee but there are a few which have not formed such committees. Inasmuch as so many already exist and function well, the Measure provides that, although in its Schedule a model constitution is afforded, the Diocesan Conference may recognize, with the consent of the Board of Education, an already existing committee which does not perfectly conform to that model. The functions that are set down for the committees are those which, where they exist, they are already accustomed to perform with certain very small exceptions, but the exceptions are what make it desirable, and in one case almost necessary, that the committees should have a statutory position so that the Board of Education, and also the War Damage Commission, may recognize them.
§ The origin of the Measure was the need for some authority in every diocese to deal with the War Damage Commission on behalf of schools which had suffered through enemy action. That Commission naturally desires to avoid having to enter 343 into direct communication with all the several parishes. Moreover, one of the principles of its conduct is that the compensation that is granted may be expended not only in the precise place where the damage was done but where the purpose served by the destroyed building may now best be served. To that end there is need for bodies that can survey and act on behalf of fairly large areas. Consequently these committees will be empowered to act, on behalf of schools in the diocese which suffered through enemy action, with the Commission. The only other power given to the committees is the power to be consulted—not after consultation to impose its wishes, but power to claim that managers of a school shall not close that school without first consulting the diocesan authority on the subject. There is every reason for that, from the standpoint of those who care for Church schools, because it may easily happen that the managers of a small Church school find themselves unable to meet expenditure demanded of them and are unaware of sources from which they may obtain assistance. If they consult the diocesan committee that committee will, of course, be able to tell what assistance may be procurable, and that information itself may be alone sufficient to alter their decision to close the school.
§ The question has been asked whether the introduction of this Measure should not have been postponed until the Government Education Bill was introduced. We did postpone it quite deliberately until the Government had announced their policy, and now after consultation with the President of the Board of Education, I am bringing it forward early because if the policy outlined in the White Paper is brought into action it will be quite necessary to have in every diocese a body competent to make a survey of the field. As your Lordships will remember, one of the proposals is that those schools which are able to raise a certain proportion—the figure in the White Paper is 50 per cent.—of the cost of renovation or adjustment may remain Church schools. Very few schools, I believe, are in a position to do so from their own resources. They will have to rely on resources provided from some centre, and particularly the diocesan centre. Consequently there must be some body in the diocese competent and qualified to make a survey of 344 the field, and to decide on which of the schools the public money of the church should be expended in this way. Therefore we agree that this Measure is one which is necessary to the implementing of the Government's policy. It was with the entire good will of the Board that the measure was originally passed in the Church Assembly, and it is with the expressed good will of the President of the Board that I am moving this Resolution. We ask that we may have our machinery ready to co-operate with the Board so soon as the policy is in action. I beg to move.
§ Moved, to resolve, That in accordance with the Church of England Assembly (Powers) Act, 1919, this House do direct that the Diocesan Education Committees Measure, 1943, be presented to His Majesty for the Royal Assent.—(The Lord Archbishop of Canterbury.)
§ On Question, Motion agree to.