§ Mr. Lewisasked the Paymaster-General whether is he has considered the representation made to him by the Non-County Boroughs' Association on 16th July last, to the effect that they viewed with concern the suggestion that arrangements should be made to transfer the administration of elementary education from the present Part III authorities to the county councils or to some other bodies before the whole problem of the future of local government has been considered by Parliament; and whether he is now in a position to make any statement on the matter?
§ Sir W. JowittI have been asked by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Education to investigate the present position of the Part III authorities and to inform him of the result of my examination of the problem. The Board have invited various organisations to send their written statements to me and thereafter to see me thereon. I am still awaiting two of the statements and have not yet seen representatives of any of the organisations. I am not therefore at present in a position to make any statement beyond saying that I shall pay most careful attention to the representations of the Non-County Boroughs' Association and any other representations I may receive from any similar responsible source.