HC Deb 14 March 1916 vol 80 c1916W
Mr. GOLDSTONE

asked the President of the Board of Education whether his attention has been called to the threatened shortage of the supply of paper for use in schools and to the introduction of the practice of using slates; and what steps he proposes to take in the matter?

Mr. HERBERT LEWIS

My attention has been called to this matter. The Board of Education would regard the re-introduction of slates in schools as open to grave objection on hygienic and on educational grounds. I have been in communication with the authorities responsible for the control of the supply of paper, and understand from them that if the supply of paper which is and will be available for school use is used with proper economy, and certainly if saving to the extent of one-third of the amount used in 1914 can be made, there is no risk of shortage, and consequently no reason to have recourse to the use of slates.