§ Mr. THOMAS DAVIESasked the President of the Board of Education if he will state what is the present number of local education authorities in England who do not train any teachers, or not in sufficient numbers to make good their annual wastage; what steps will the Board take to compel such authorities to train their proper quota; and why the Board does not calculate grants for higher education on the same basis as for elementary education?
§ Mr. HERBERT FISHERThe latest tabulated figures available as to the recruitment of elementary school teachers are those published last year in List 170, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy. It is difficult to ascertain the annual wastage of teachers in particular areas, but very few authorities have so far been able to recruit intending teachers up to the figure indicated as necessary in the Board's Circular 1,134 of August last, namely, roughly 10 per cent. of the number of teachers employed in the public elementary schools of the area. As regards the second part of the 1691W question, I would refer the hon. Member to Section 1 and Section 2 (1) (c) (ii) of the Education Act of 1918 and to Article 27 (1) (a) (i) of the Code of Regulations for Public Elementary Schools. The importance of the subject has been brought to the attention of local education authorities on many occasions and will be pressed upon them individually in connection with the schemes submitted by them under the Act of 1918. As regards the last part of the question, the establishment of a comprehensive grant for higher education on the lines of that for elementary education raises very difficult and complex questions. The matter has been engaging the Board's attention for some time past, and I am doing my best to advance the solution of the problem.