Mrs Florence Paton: Is my right hon. Friend aware that there are cases where the education of children has been seriously handicapped in this respect, and that I have had a report of the case of a child whose school report says that the child's education has been handicapped through lack of glasses? Is he aware that this child has waited for nearly 12 months and has only just been supplied?
Mrs Florence Paton: Is it not possible for these women to seek the assistance of the National Assistance Board and so secure the help they need in that way?
Mrs Florence Paton: Will the hon. Member specify the ways in which we waste money in administration? Since he is the chairman of an education authority, he ought to be able to tell us.
Mrs Florence Paton: I have been listening today to some fine speeches from all sides of the Committee, and the astonishing thing is that there is so much agreement about our aims and intentions with regard to the future of education. For instance, I could not agree more with that part of the fine contribution of the hon. Member for Aberavon (Mr. Cove) in which he stressed the need to dwell on the content of...
Mrs Florence Paton: I understand that the tripartite is three secondary school systems—secondary modern, secondary technical and secondary grammar—and I stand by what I have said in regard to that.
Mrs Florence Paton: Is my right hon. Friend aware that the difficulty of local authorities in providing schools is the shortage of school architects? Has he any plan for remedying this shortage?
Mrs Florence Paton: Is it not the case that some of this money is going to help German children in the British zone of Germany and that we are, therefore, receiving aid from the fund, too? Is it not also the case that if we do not assist this fund a large amount of American dollars will be lost to the fund and the beneficent work will be stopped?
Mrs Florence Paton: Is my right hon. Friend aware that there are many people in this country who are very concerned at the thought that this country might not take part in this work and who regard this work as one of the most beneficent things that the United Nations are doing? I urge the Foreign Secretary to keep this fund going.
Mrs Florence Paton: asked the Secretary of State for War how many complaints he has received stating that the men serving in the Army do not get enough nutritious food; and whether he is satisfied with the quality and quantity of food supplies.
Mrs Florence Paton: Is my right hon. Friend aware of the resolution passed recently at a women's conference and given great publicity in the Press declaring that the insufficiency of the food supply is endangering the health and stamina of our men, especially those doing outdoor work? Will he give an assurance that he will take up any specific case where evidence is brought of this so that he can take action?
Mrs Florence Paton: asked the Minister of Defence what decision has been taken with regard to the provision of clothing to National Service men on the completion of their service.
Mrs Florence Paton: Will my right hon. Friend assure the House that the stopping of this lecture is not evidence of the fact that the British Government have lost faith in the United Nations?
Mrs Florence Paton: asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that none of the imported rabbits handled through the Association of Wholesale Distributors reaches the Beeston and Stapleford district of Nottingham; and, since this area has a population of 50,000, will he take steps to remedy this situation.
Mrs Florence Paton: Since the towns on either side of Beeston and Stapleford have had these allocations, the Beeston and Staple-ford Food Control Committee suggested to the Association that they should stagger the allocation but so far there has been no reply. Could my hon. Friend look into it?
Mrs Florence Paton: And that is no disgrace.
Mrs Florence Paton: I speak now on this subject because I feel I must. Last year I was the Government delegate to the United Nations and sat on the Committee which dealt with the Children's International Emergency Fund and the United Nations Appeal for Children. I want to say that, all along, I have been very sad about this issue. I did not like the instructions given me and last year I expressed my...
Mrs Florence Paton: asked the Minister of Education (1) if he is aware of the increasing number of private-house schools; whether his regulations make it necessary for any person setting up a school in a private house to notify the local education authority; and to what extent these schools are responsible to the local education authority; (2) if he is satisfied that children attending private-house schools are...
Mrs Florence Paton: Is my right hon. Friend aware that in one small area in my division no fewer than six of these schools are open, holding boo children; and that the Parents' Association are very alarmed at the rapid growth of these schools and feel that something should be done at once to supervise and to inspect the buildings?
Mrs Florence Paton: Is it not the case that any person without any qualification whatever and in any kind of building can open a private school? Does not my right hon. Friend think that that ought to be stopped?
Mrs Florence Paton: Nonsense.
