HL Deb 03 April 1968 vol 290 cc1222-3
LORD BEAUMONT OF WHITLEY

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the second Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have any records of incidents of violence offered by pupils to teachers in schools and, if so, what are any relevant figures for the immediate past.]

BARONESS PHILLIPS

My Lords, Her Majesty's Government have no such records.

LORD BEAUMONT OF WHITLEY

My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness for her Answer. May I ask whether she is aware that there is considerable feeling among teachers and others that there is a problem here? If this is so, the best way of dealing with this feeling is to make quite certain that there are records of incidents which, if they were common, would amount to a very distressing and disturbing symptom.

BARONESS PHILLIPS

My Lords, as the noble Lord may well know, matters of school behaviour are the responsibility of the governors, the teachers and the local education authority. If the matter were of sufficient seriousness, it might well come within the purview of the local court. I note that the noble Lord says that there is growing disturbance among the teachers on this question. If he would care to communicate with me later I will convey his comments to my right honourable friend.

LORD BALFOUR OF INCHRYE

My Lords, would the incidence of violence of the Young Liberals to the elder teachers in the Party be included?

LORD BYERS

My Lords, is the noble Baroness aware that it is very welcome?

LORD BEAUMONT OF WHITLEY

My Lords, I welcome the obvious interest of the noble Baroness in what I think is becoming a problem. May I ask whether the Government are aware of the necessity for dealing with this kind of behaviour before it becomes a problem, as, unfortunately, was not done by learning a lesson from, say, what happened in America in a similar way over racial problems?

BARONESS PHILLIPS

My Lords, the noble Lord may be reassured that the recommendations of the Plowden Committee in relation to certain areas where there was social deprivation are now being studied very carefully and will be followed through. Her Majesty's Government have no record of an increase in the violence which the noble Lord has mentioned.