§ MR. MUNDELLAasked the Vice President of the Council, If he will state under what Act of Parliament the Education Department considers itself authorized to refuse a grant to any efficient Elementary School, as in the case of the Keynsham British School?
§ VISCOUNT SANDONSir, we have been advised that the Department has the power to refuse annual grants to any new schools which are not needed to supply the accommodation of a place; and, on the merits of the case, it would appear absurd that we should be compelled to contribute to the support of, say, some half-dozen schools in one small place, a case which might easily arise in the conflict of opinions on these matters. In the Education Act of 1870 a provision 1975 is made where there are school boards, even if they have no board schools, for the refusal by the Department of an annual grant to a school, if the Education Department considers such school unnecessary; and in the Scotch Code a like provision is made respecting all cases. As far as principle goes, there can be no distinction between these cases and one like that of Keynsham. As the hon. Gentleman, however, has raised a doubt as to the power of the Department to act as they have done, we shall be most happy to refer the matter to the Law Officers of the Crown, and I will inform him of the result.