Orders of the Day — Education Bill

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at on 19 January 1944.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Mr Geoffrey Shakespeare Mr Geoffrey Shakespeare , Norwich

I am fortunate in following the hon. Member for Burton (Mr. Gretton) and being in a position to congratulate him, as I am sure the House would wish me to, on having overcome what is probably the most terrible ordeal in the whole of one's life. He must be very relieved, particularly as he has acquitted himself so well and shown such a wide knowledge of the problems that we shall be discussing for months ahead. We welcome him here not only for himself but as the son of his father who was so long a prominent figure in this House. I agree with my hon. Friend the Member for Romford (Mr. Parker) that it would be a tragedy if this Bill were lost on account of sectarian disputes. I should like to start by congratulating the President of the Board of Education on the extremely skilful and diplomatic way in which he has carried out his negotiations and framed this comprehensive Measure, which gathers up the dreams of all educational reformists and is the first Bill which I remember that deals with the whole of the educable life of the child from the nursing stage to the primary stage to the secondary stage and the continuation stage, then to the university and to adult education. This is the most comprehensive Bill I remember and it is one of the very best that has ever been presented to the House.