§ Mr. F. E. SMITHasked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that the determination to make the 10 square feet rule retrospective will involve the Roman Catholic community of Liverpool in an expenditure estimated at £10,000; and whether he will consider the expediency of suspending the re-assessment of accommodation in the case of schools which are efficient both for sanitary and for working purposes?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThe only estimate I have seen placed the cost at £100,000, and I am relieved to find that the hon. Member is able to reduce this estimate by £90,000. I am not in a position to correct or to con firm either estimate, but if either of them is approximately correct the reassessment appears to be amply justified. With regard to the second paragraph of the question, the Board are always prepared to consider cases of individual hardship and difficulty1570W arid to allow time for the fulfilment of their requirements, provided that they are satisfied that a determined effort will be made to meet them within a reasonable period. I cannot, however, undertake to adopt generally the procedure suggested, inasmuch as the Board's requirement is based upon the principle that until the reassessment has been carried out the schools affected cannot be regarded as reaching the standard of efficiency or hygiene which has long been considered necessary in the interests of the children and the teachers.