§ 97. Dr. Haden Guestasked the Minister of Education whether, in view of the recent county council elections, she proposes to alter the date, now 1st April, by which education authorities are required to present their schemes under the Education Act.
§ Miss WilkinsonThe date in question is fixed by Section 11 (1) of the Education Act, 1944, which gives the Minister power to extend the time in any particular case. I have recently issued a circular, of which I am sending a copy to the hon. Member, informing local education authorities of the circumstances in which I am prepared to consider applications for such an extension. I am particularly anxious that there should be no avoidable delay in the preparation and submission of these development plans, and I should not regard a change in the composition of the local authority as a good ground for postponement.