Catholic schools in Scotland aid question shelved

PrHE question of whether A the State should continue its aid to Catholic schools has been shelved for a year by the Scottish Labour Party.
Delegates scheduled to attend the party's conference in March have been told that a special party committee set up to study the issue has not received cooperation from the Educational Institute of Scotland — the principal professional organisation of Scottish teachers — and the Scottish Education Department.
The school aid issue has been a dominant topic at recent Labour Party conferences, and has threatened to split the Party, which the majority of Scottish Catholics traditionally support.
Under the 1918 Education Act of Scotland, the State builds, staffs and equips separate schools for Catholics. The Church, however, is responsible for religious education in the schools and for providing the Catholic character of the staff. In recent years the shortage of Catholic teachers has posed difficulties.
The Labour Party's special committee received a report from the Scottish Catholic bishops restating their wish that the present policy of separate schools continue.