§ Lieut.-Colonel BURGOYNEasked the President of the Board of Education whether the Education Act at present in force allows school journeys for children of the elementary schools only on the condition that the whole of the travelling expenses are paid by the education authority; whether in the past the 72W children, teachers, and friends have contributed to the journey fares to enable the children to go to the seaside for the school visit; whether the letter of the law is this year strictly to be enforced, and no contribution from the children, teachers, or friends will be allowed; whether, as the London County Council only allows 3s. 6d. per head for such journeys, a number of children who have been arranging to go for their school visit to the seaside will be unable to do so; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?
§ Mr. FISHERThe answer to the first and third parts of the question is in the negative. Under the London Education Authority the arrangements are made under Section 17 of the Education Act, 1918, and includes a regulation, suggested by the Board, that "the selection of individual children to take part in school journeys shall not be determined, directly or indirectly, by the ability of their parents to contribute to the cost." I understand that in London funds are being raised, as in the past, by means of voluntary contributions, entertainments, etc., for the purpose of aiding these arrangements. There is nothing to prevent a continuance of this benevolent practice. The London authority bear the cost of the travelling expenses, board and lodging of the teachers who are in charge of the journeys, and make other contributions, including, in respect of the board and lodging of each child, sums which vary from 15s. a week to 3s. 9d. a week.