§ MR. WHALLEYasked the Vice President of the Council, Whether any steps have been taken by his Department to protect education, so far as it may be under its control or influence, against the Confessional practices and doctrines set forth in the book called "The Priest in Absolution," for children ranging from five years of age and upwards; and, if so, that he will be good enough to state what steps have been taken for that purpose?
§ VISCOUNT SANDONSir, I answered very fully a Question of the same character which was put by the hon. Member on the 26th of June last; but the subject itself is so important, and naturally excites so much general interest, that I do not think I ought on that ground to decline to answer the present Question. I understand the Question to refer to schools in connection with the Church of England, and I cannot but imagine that the unanimous opinion expressed by the Bench of Bishops in the Upper House of Convocation in condemnation of the practices to which he alludes will prevent their being carried out in the schools in connection with the Established Church. Should that, un- 749 happily, not be the case, I would remind the hon. Gentleman that the Time Table Conscience Clause of the Act of 1870 gives the parent of a child full protection against his child receiving any religious instruction or attending any religious observances to which he objects, and also that, by the Education Act of last year, we made it the duty of the school authority, which now exists in every part of the country, to report to us any infraction of that Conscience Clause. I need hardly add that if such infraction was continued, we should at once refuse to give the Government grant. Beyond this, we have no legal power to interfere with the religious opinions or practices of the managers of board schools, or voluntary public elementary schools, be they Church of England, Nonconformist, or Roman Catholic.