HC Deb 11 November 1920 vol 134 cc1404-5W
Viscountess ASTOR

asked the President of the Board of Education in how many cases the proposed modification of the application of the Education Act of 1918 will involve the postponement of schemes for continuation classes and higher education already approved by his Department; and whether he can give an assurance that such schemes will be postponed only, and not permanently dropped?

Captain COOTE

asked the President of the Board of Education, (1) what is the estimated saving which will result from the proposed modified application of the Education Act, 1918;

(2) the precise steps to be taken in order to give effect to the proposed modification of the application of the Education Act, 1918?

Mr. FISHER

The Government have not proposed to modify the application of the Education Act; everyone, however, must recognise that economic conditions will prevent the local Education Authorities from giving full effect as soon as they would like to the schemes for development which the Act directs them to prepare; and the Board of Education are fully alive to the necessity of husbanding the available resources. It is impossible to estimate the difference in cost between what the local authorities would like to do and what they will be able to do under present conditions.