§ MR. WHALLEYasked the Vice President of the Council, with reference to recent disclosures of certain doctrines and practices under the name of "Confessional," carried out by Ministers of the Established Church associated for that purpose under the name of Holy Cross, or otherwise, Whether he is aware of any such Minister being now recognized by his Department as having charge or control over public schools; and, if so, whether any and what steps will be taken to protect the public against the propagation of such doctrines and practices under the name of education?
§ VISCOUNT SANDONI would remind the hon. Gentleman that the Education Department has no authority to deal with the religious teaching and observances of public elementary schools, beyond insisting upon a strict adherence to all the provisions of the Conscience Clause, which provides, in addition to other securities for the rights of conscience, that a parent may withdraw his child from any religious teaching or observance. Beyond this, none of the Acts which we administer give us any authority to inquire into the doctrines or practices of the managers of the schools which receive our annual grants, be they Board, Church of England, or Roman Catholic. Nor do they enable us to interfere with the constitution of the governing bodies of the schools. Under these circumstances, I cannot 260 think that I have either the right or the power to make the inquiries which would alone enable me to answer the hon. Gentleman's Question. I trust, however, that the House will not think that I in any way undervalue the gravity and importance of the subject to which the hon. Gentleman has called attention.