Oral Answers to Questions — Education. – in the House of Commons at on 8 February 1940.
Mr James Ede
, South Shields
asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education on what date the Board sanctioned the construction of air-raid shelters by the West Sussex County Council for the secondary schools at Worthing; and, since by this action the Board have indicated the advisability of providing shelter in Worthing for school children, whether he will ensure that the Worthing Town Council make similar and adequate provision for the elementary schools of the borough?
Mr. Lindsay:
Sanction to the expenditure proposed by the West Sussex Local Education Authority on the provision of air-raid shelters for the secondary schools in Worthing was given by His Majesty's Inspector on 15th September, 1939. As the hon. Member was informed on 1st February, the responsibility for deciding whether air-raid shelters should be provided for the elementary schools of the borough, which is a reception area, rests with the Worthing Local Education Authority in consultation with the local A.R.P. authority. I admit that the position is anomalous. The attention of the Worthing Local Education Authority is being drawn to the fact.
Mr James Ede
, South Shields
Will the hon. Gentleman press on the local authority that elementary schools are to be treated no differently from other schools?
Mr. David Adams:
asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education whether he will clarify the position with regard to the responsibility of the local education authorities and of the Board of Education for children on school premises during an air-raid; and whether any material difference is made by local education authorities informing parents that they may send their children to school at their own risk?
Mr. Lindsay:
The responsibility for determining what air-raid precautions should be taken as best suited to the circumstances of a particular school is one for the local education authority in consultation with the local air-raid precautions authority. This responsibility is not removed by giving the parent the option of sending his child to school or not. If, however, the hon. Member has in mind the question of compensation for injuries sustained by a child while attending school during an air raid the matter is one for the Minister of Pensions under the Personal Injuries (Emergency Provisions) Act, 1939.
Mr. Adams:
Does the Minister not consider that, as the Government are waging this war, they ought to accept full responsibility in cases like this, rather than place the burden on private individuals?
Ministers make up the Government and almost all are members of the House of Lords or the House of Commons. There are three main types of Minister. Departmental Ministers are in charge of Government Departments. The Government is divided into different Departments which have responsibilities for different areas. For example the Treasury is in charge of Government spending. Departmental Ministers in the Cabinet are generally called 'Secretary of State' but some have special titles such as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Ministers of State and Junior Ministers assist the ministers in charge of the department. They normally have responsibility for a particular area within the department and are sometimes given a title that reflects this - for example Minister of Transport.
