HC Deb 22 August 1940 vol 364 cc1485-7W
Mr. Brooke

asked the President of the Board of Education how many local education authorities have set up local youth committees in response to his Circular 1486, of November, 1939; and, if any authorities have not yet set up such a committee in their areas, will he furnish a list of these?

Mr. Ramsbotham

Of the 146 local education authorities for higher education, 129 have submitted schemes for youth committees and the administration of the Service of Youth; nine have schemes under consideration for submission to the Board, and eight have intimated their intention to defer action for the present. These eight authorities are Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire, the Holland Division of Lincolnshire, Isle of Ely, Isle of Wight, Brighton, Monmouthshire and Brecon. In all these cases the Board are taking the matter up with the authority concerned.

Mr. Brooke

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he can give the House any information about the East Suffolk Youth Service?

Mr. Ramsbotham

I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to the East Suffolk Youth Service Scheme which has been initiated by the County Youth Committee. This is a scheme for the formation of voluntary "service squads" in every parish, linked together and associated with the County Committee by means of a county badge. Its object is to provide young people of both sexes with opportunities to do useful service for their country, e.g., work in connection with the various civil defence services, digging trenches, filling sandbags, farm work, gardening, salvage, food production, messenger services, assistance to householders. I understand that a considerable number of service squads have already been enrolled under the scheme.

Mr. Brooke

asked the President of the Board of Education what is the present membership of the National Youth Committee, indicating in terms of Circular 1486, which were appointed as being members of local education authorities, members of voluntary organisations and persons competent to speak on behalf of industry, medicine and physical training, respectively?

Mr. Ramsbotham

Members of the National Youth Committee were not appointed in a representative capacity, but on the personal invitation of the President. The following is a list of members with particulars of any special office or qualifications in each case.

National Youth Committee.

Mr. Chuter Ede, M.P., Chairman, Parliamentry Secretary to the Board of Education.

England and Wales:

The Rt. Hon. Lord Aberdare, Formerly Chairman, National Fitness Council.

Sir Max J. Bonn, K.B.E., Chairman of the London Regional Advisory Council for Juvenile Employment.

Miss May Curwen, O.B.E., M.A., General Secretary Y.W.C.A. Vice-Chairman, Standing Conference of National Juvenile Organisations.

Brigadier-General Sir Wyndham Deedes, C.M.G., D.S.O., National Council of Social Service.

Mrs. Walter Elliot, National Council of Girls' Clubs.

England and Wales—contd.

Miss Dorothy Elliott, J.P., National Union of General and Municipal Workers.

Mr. James Griffiths, M.P., M.P. for Llanelly.

Rev. Robert R. Hyde, M.V.O., Industrial Welfare Society.

Mr. Kenneth Lindsay, M.P., M.P. for Kilmarnock.

Sir Frederick Mander, Secretary of the National Union of Teachers.

Mr. A. W. Oyler, O.B.E., Chairman, Standing Conference of National Juvenile Organisations.

Mr. Charles Robertson, M.A., Chairman, Education Committee London County Council.

Sir Percival Sharp, LL.D., Secretary, Association of Education Committees.

Mr. T. A. Warren, C.B.E., Director of Education, Wolverhampton.

Scotland:

Mr. J. Westwood, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland.

The Rt. Hon. Viscount Templetown, Member of the County Council for Kirkcudbright. Formerly Vice-Chairman of the Scottish Fitness Council.

Dr. E. M. Wedderburn, O.B.E., Deputy-Keeper of His Majesty's Signet; Member of the Scottish Central Council of Juvenile Organisations.

Advisers:

Sir David Milne-Watson, Bt., Industrial.

The Rt. Hon. Viscount Dawson of Penn, K.C.B., K.C.M.G., M.D., Medical.

Mr. George W. Thomson, Trades Union Congress.