§ Mr. Kilfedderasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) whether he is satisfied that the powers of the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Complaints to investigate charges of discrimination and maladministration should not be extended to include the voluntary and maintained school systems, which account for over half the schools in Northern Ireland;
(2) how many teachers are employed in Northern Ireland in county school and voluntary and maintained schools, respectively; and how many of these are not subject to investigation by the Commissioner for Complaints with regard to recruitment, appointment and conditions of service.
§ Mr. ChannonIn January, 1971, the latest date for which information is available, the number of teachers was as follows:
In county schools 7,113 In maintained voluntary schools 4,258 In non-maintained voluntary schools 3,386 None of these schools falls within the jurisdiction of the Commissioner of Complaints who is concerned, rightly I think, with investigating allegations of maladministration only by local or public bodies.
§ Mr. Kilfedderasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what administrative procedures have been introduced to ensure that voluntary school managers, who become entitled to 80 per cent. capital grant, do not receive the higher rate of grant in respect of a period during which the former rate of 65 per cent. should be payable; and if he is satisfied 41W that the measures so far taken have prevented abuse by voluntary school managers and architects employed by them.
§ Mr. ChannonI am sending my hon. Friend copies of circulars issued by the Northern Ireland Ministry of Education setting out the procedure for claiming grants. I have no evidence that the arrangements have been abused.
§ Mr. Kilfedderasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what Her Majesty's Government's policy is regarding segregated education in Northern Ireland; and what action he proposes to take to bring the segregation of schoolchildren on religious lines to an end as soon as practicable.
§ Mr. ChannonAll schools in Northern Ireland which are maintained by or receive grants from local education authorities are willing to accept children of all religious denominations.
§ Mr. Kilfedderasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what voluntary school building projects in Northern Ireland were in the pipeline when the rate of capital grant was increased from 42W 65 per cent. to 80 per cent.; what are the names of the schools concerned; what was the scheme of management of these schools at the relevant date; and what is the scheme of management today.
§ Mr. ChannonI regret that this information is not readily available and could not be provided without disproportionate cost. I will, however, obtain detailed information about any particular school or schools in which my hon. Friend has an interest.