§ Mr. Mainwaringasked the President of the Board of Education whether he will provide information showing what is being done throughout the country by loyal education authorities and by employers by way of part-time education and special training of young workers, together with a statement as to the nature and extent of the assistance given to these activities by his Department?
§ Mr. ButlerI assume that the hon. Member has in mind part-time education and vocational training in courses held in the day-time. The number of persons attending such courses in the year ended 31st July last was a little over 48,600, and the great majority of these were young workers released by their employers during working hours for attendance at schools conducted by local education authorities. I am glad to say that this represents an increase of nearly 5,000 as compared with the total for the last year before the war and of over 11,000 as compared with 1940–41. The Board pay grant at the rate of 50 per cent. of the net cost to the local education authorities of this service, and they do everything possible to facilitate the provision of these courses to meet the wishes of employers.