HC Deb 14 April 1885 vol 296 cc1625-6
MR. GRANTHAM

asked the Vice President of the Committee of Council, Whether, in consequence of the opinions of the Law Officers of the Crown in reference to the position of the School Board of Croydon that immediate Legislation is necessary to remedy the omission in the Education Acts of any provision to enable School Boards elected by a parish to continue to act as the School Board for the same area when it is afterwards created a Municipal Borough, he will at once bring in a Bill to remedy such omission, and hasten its passage through this House and the House of Lords; or, what other steps he proposes to take, or would advise the School Board of Croydon to take, to enable it to continue its duties, and to obtain its necessary funds from the Municipal authorities of the town?

MR. MUNDELLA

The opinion of the Law Officers has been obtained in this case, to the effect that, by reason of the Charter creating the municipal borough of Croydon, the School Board for the parish has no longer jurisdiction, and that a School Board must be set up for the borough. But in order to settle some legal doubts legislation is required. I am prepared to introduce a Bill for the purpose of settling these difficulties, and this Bill will be introduced at once, and carried through as soon as possible. In the meantime, I understand that the Municipal Authorities will pay the precept to the existing School Board, in order that no difficulty may arise in carrying on the schools. I think it right to add that the Town Council and Town Clerk have shown the utmost desire to facilitate the settlement of this question.