Mr. HARVEY:

asked the President of the Board of Education what administrative steps he proposes to take to reduce the size of classes in public elementary schools, especially in the case of classes exceeding 50 in number?

The hon. Member will, I am sure, agree with me that my efforts should be directed in the first place to the elimination of classes of 60 and over. I shall then use every endeavour to secure as soon as practicable the reduction of the number of classes of over 50. The matter is, as he is aware, complicated by the arrangement of school buildings and the size of classrooms. I propose in due course to address a communication to Local Education Authorities asking them to co-operate with me in remedying the admitted evil of large classes on well-considered lines.