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Mr. Jay: Of the industrial companies reporting from 1s: April to 30th Novem- ber, 1948, 81 per cent. in terms of the number of companies and 93 per cent. in terms of the issued capital involved did not increase their dividends. Some of the remainder no doubt had justifica- tion for their increases.

Departmental Claims Branch. Liverpool

55. Mr. Kirby asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in view of the heavy unemployment on Merseyside, he will reconsider his decision to transfer from Liverpool to Cardiff work now per- formed in Liverpool by the Depart- mental Claims Branch of the Inland Revenue.

Mr. Jay: Further consideration has been given to this matter and it has been decided to maintain the office at Liver- pool for a further two years. The ulti- mate concentration of the work of this branch of the Inland Revenue in Cardiff where the greater part of its work is already dealt with is considered to be in the interest of sound organisation and good management.

EDUCATION Nursery Schools

86. Mr. Peter Freeman asked the Minister of Education what plans have been prepared for one or more nursery schools in Newport; how many children between two and five years of age live in Newport; and what proportions are estimated as desiring to attend nursery schools; how many classes for such children exist at present; and how many children can be provided for in them.

Mr. Tomlinson: The number of chil- dren between two and five years of age in the county borough of Newport is not known exactly, but is about 4,900. It is thought that accommodation in nur- sery schools or classes may ultimately be required for as many as one-half of this number. In January, 1948, there were 587 children under five years of age in attendance at primary schools maintained by the local education autho- rity, of which 254 were in nine nursery classes.

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I am not aware that any plans have been prepared for the erection of nur- sery schools in Newport, and I cannot include proposals for schools of this kind in the authority's building programme for the year 1949, having regard to demands on labour and materials for more urgent projects.

88 and 89. Mr. Piratin asked the Minis- ter of Education (1) what percentage of the age group three to five are at present in nursery classes organised as such; and what is the actual number of children involved;

(2) what percentage of the age group two to five are at present in nursery schools; and what is the actual number of children involved.

Mr. Tomlinson: In January, 1948, there were 20,661 children aged two and under five on the registers of grant-aided nursery schools. This was about one per cent. of the total number of children of these age groups in England and Wales. On the same date there were 71,000 child- ren on the registers of organised nursery classes. It is estimated that the number aged three and under five was about five per cent. of the total child popula- tion of England and Wales in these age groups.

Boarding Schools (Assisted Pupils)

90 and 91. Mr. Dumpleton asked the Minister of Education (1) why, in approving schemes for assistance to pupils at direct grant and indepen- dent boarding schools, he requires that they include conditions relating to social circumstances, such as lack of suitable home, instead of leaving local education authorities free to make awards on educational grounds alone and to have regard to the wishes of parents;

(2) why in approving schemes for assistance to pupils at direct grant and independent boarding schools he requires that they include the condition that the pupil has passed the county entrance examination for grammar school equivalent; and whether he will give encouragement to boarding school educa- tion of all types where the parents desire it for their children.

or

Mr. Tomlinson: I have imposed no such conditions and I am anxious to see a progressive development of all types

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DECEMBER 1943

of boarding education for suitable children. Since, however, most of the existing direct grant and independent boarding schools give an education of the grammar school type it is natural that local education authorities should satisfy themselves that the pupils they assist at such schools will be able to profit by that form of education. Also

in Administrative Memorandum 225, of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy, the point was made that at present owing to the shortage of boarding accommodation it was to be expected that greater attention would have to be given to a pupil's extraneous circumstances than will, I hope, later be required.

Physical Training Teachers

87. Sir W. Smithers asked the Minister of Education, in view of the shortage of teachers, why it is necessary for a physical training instructor also to be a qualified teacher; and why a qualified physical training instructor is not allowed to con- duct physical training classes.

Mr. Tomlinson: Teachers seeking per- manent employment in primary and secondary schools are generally expected, not merely to be experts in some particu- lar subject, but to have taken a course of training in the art of teaching. In certain cases, teachers of physical training who have not followed such courses may be exceptionally regarded as qualified teachers under the terms of Circular 173, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

General Certificate Examination

92. Commander Maitland asked the Minister of Education whether he will now make a statement regarding the decision of the Secondary School Examinations Council that the new school certificate examination cannot be taken before the age of 16.

Mr. Tomlinson: The age limit which I propose, on the recommendation of the Secondary School Examinations Council, to fix in connection with the examination for the new General Certificate of Educa- tion, is an integral part of an entirely new system designed to test a pupil's capabilities at the relevant time before entry to a university or profession. Difficulties would arise only if university

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entrance requirements were continued in their present form. In fact, I understand, they are now under review.

Pupils (Code of Conduct)

93. Mr. Longden asked the Minister of Education if he is aware of the good results achieved by the code of conduct drawn up by the headmaster of the Ada Road school, Birmingham; and if, in view of the recent increase of 30 per cent. in crime by children under 17, he will set up area committees of teachers to advise all heads of schools on the lines of this code.

Mr. Tomlinson: It is one of the schools' most important functions to fos- ter in their pupils a proper sense of social responsibility and I have read this code with much interest, especially in view of the consideration which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department and I are now giving to the means of combating the increase in juvenile crime.

W.E.A. Courses

95. Mr. Keeling asked the Minister of Education what machinery exists for en- suring that classes provided by the Workers' Educational Association for elections or other party propaganda are rendered ineligible for assistance from public funds.

Mr. Tomlinson: My Department is supplied in advance with particulars of each grant-earning course conducted by the Workers' Educational Association, together with a copy of the syllabus. All courses are open to inspection and His Majesty's Inspectors and the responsible bodies themselves are well aware of the requirement that there should be no party bias or propaganda.

TRADE AND COMMERCE

Utility Cloth

96. Air-Commodore Harvey asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the serious shortage of sup- plies of utility cloth for the home trade, which is causing considerable difficulty to the making-up section of the industry; and if he will authorise that a definite percentage of utility cloth be directed to the home market for made-up garments.