Colonel NEWMANasked the President of the Board of Education, of the London education authorities how many of its members sit by virtue of co-option and how many as elected representatives of the ratepayers; and what is the general average of co-opted to elected members throughout the various education authorities in England and Wales?
§ Mr. FISHERIt is presumed that the question refers to the constitution of the Statutory Education Committee of the London County Council. That Committee consists of 38 members of the London County Council and of 12 other 1179W persons selected by the London County Council, of whom five must be women. It would involve a great expenditure of time to ascertain the same particulars as to the composition of other education committees throughout England and Wales, of which there are more than 300. Section 17 of the Education Act, 1902, however, provides that a majority of the members of an education committee must be appointed by the council and must also be members of the council unless, in the case of a county, the council otherwise determine. I think on most education committees the members of the council amount to much more than a bare majority.