§ 95. Mr. Loganasked the Minister of Education if he is aware of the growing anxiety caused to Catholics by the financial demands of the present Education Act; and, in view of the fact that the Government cannot carry out its short-term policy in regard to finance, whether he is prepared to have an early conference with Members of Parliament so that they may have his considered views on long-term policy to enable Catholics to meet their financial obligations imposed by the Act.
§ Mr. HardmanMy right hon. Friend has received representations to this effect from the Roman Catholic Hierarchy as well as from a number of Roman Catholic associations and individuals. He does not follow his hon. Friend's reference to the Government's short-term policy in regard to finance. The Education Act, 1944, is essentially a long-term measure and the reforms for which it provides are bound to be spread over a number of years. The latter is one of the factors which have led him to the conclusion that the Hierarchy are taking an unduly pessimistic view of their financial position under the Act.
My right hon. Friend is always glad to meet hon. Members but he can hold out no hope at all that the Government will be prepared to introduce legislation which would fundamentally alter the basis of the Act of 1944 in so far as it relates to voluntary schools.