14 FEBRUARY 1936, Page 3

The debate on Maintenance Allowances on Wednesday was a dullish

affair. But the proceedings were enlivened by a closely reasoned and cogent maiden speech by Mr. Strauss, the new Conservative Member for Norwich, who made as good a debating answer to the Labour case for maintenance allowances as the Minister himself. It was clear, however, that there is a fair amount of support among Conservative social reformers for the principle. The School Bill generally looks like having a much rougher passage than Mr. Oliver Stanley appears to expect.