§ 3.5 p.m.
§ LORD OGMOREMy Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will make a statement on the scope and objectives of the forthcoming Commonwealth Education Conference.]
THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR COMMONWEALTH RELATIONS (THE EARL OF HOME)My Lords, the Commonwealth Education Conference will be held in Oxford from July 15 to 29. The Conference will work out detailed arrangements for the new scheme for 1,000 Commonwealth scholars and fellows, agreed on by Commonwealth Ministers at the Trade and Economic Conference held in Montreal last September. The Conference will also review existing arrangements for co-operation between the Commonwealth countries on education generally. The Agenda will be settled by the Conference; the supply and training of teachers and scientific and technical education will be subjects of particular importance.
Lord Halifax will be President of the Conference, and Sir Philip Morris, who of course has most distinguished experience in this field, will be Chairman. The delegations will be composed both of officials and of representatives of universities and other educational bodies. I hope that from the Conference there will emerge practical schemes for furthering co-operation in this vitally important matter of education, where the needs are so great and where Commonwealth countries have so much to offer one another.
§ LORD OGMOREMy Lords, I am sure we all welcome the statement which the noble Earl the Leader of the House has just made, and we wish the Conference every success. May I ask the noble Earl whether a report will be published at the end of the Conference and whether we shall have an opportunity of considering it?
THE EARL OF HOMEMy Lords, I have no doubt that the findings of the Conference will be made public in one way or another, and I will take steps to see that this House and Parliament is acquainted with the results. I might have added to my reply that the officials and the university people who are coming from the Commonwealth countries—and they are going to be well represented by people of very high standing—will have an opportunity to tour the United Kingdom on several different tours before the Conference begins. So that I think the preparations and arrangements will help them to understand the system we have here before the Conference convenes.
LORD REAMy Lords, may I ask whether, if the Conference should recommend some financial developments, Her Majesty's Government will look sympathetically at any such recommendations that might be made?
THE EARL OF HOMEMy Lords, I cannot answer for the Treasury, but we have had it in mind that if schemes are launched they will almost inevitably cost money.