§ Mr. Tomlinsonasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education, how many permanent members of the inspectorate staff of the Board have been loaned to other departments; and how soon will their services be available for the assistance of local education authorities in seeking a solution of the problems arising from evacuation?
Mr. LindsayFifty-five members of the Board's Inspectorate have been seconded on loan to other Departments: of these, nine are giving part-time service only to another Department and are consequently available for part of their inspectorial duties. The remaining 46 will not return to their districts so long as their services are required by the other Departments. The hon. Member will appreciate that since a large number of schools are closed, the balance of the Inspectorate is quite adequate to deal with the problems in the reception areas to which evacuation has given rise.