§ Sir d. HARMOOD-BANNERasked the President of the Board of Education if he will state the cause of the decrease in the supply of teachers to public elementary schools during recent years; and what steps have been taken to remedy the reduction?
§ Mr. HERBERT FISHERThe causes of the decrease are complex, and are discussed on pages 148 to 158 of the Board's Report for 1912–13 [Cd. 7341 of 1914]. In 1912 the Board took certain steps, which are referred to on pages 133 to 149 of their Report for 1913–14 [Cd. 7934 of 1915]. The result of these steps was that the number of candidates recognised rose from 5,232 in 1912–13 to 7,066 in 1915–16. I have no doubt that further action is now needed, and I may perhaps refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on the 12th February to the hon. Member for Oldham, of which I am sending him a copy.