§ MR. H. H. FOWLERasked the Vice President of the Council, Whether a representation has been made to the Education Department on behalf of the School Attendance Committee of the Bridgnorth Union, stating that the managers of the only available school in one of the parishes in that Union charge a fee of sixpence instead of threepence per week for each child of a parent whose employers do not subscribe to the funds of the school; whether this infliction of a fine upon labourers because their employers decline to support a school belonging to the Church of England meets with the approval of the Department; and, whether, if it does not, they will bring pressure to bear upon the managers of the school in question, in order to place all the children attending a school receiving Government grants upon equal terms?
§ MR. MUNDELLAThe facts as stated in the Question of the hon. Member are substantially accurate, except that the complaint refers to a single case—that of a farm bailiff—whoso employer refuses to contribute to the only public elementary school within accessible distance. The Education Department holds that 605 double fees ought not to be charged to parents whose employers refuse to contribute to voluntary schools, and we have called on the managers in this case to admit the children at the ordinary fee.