§ MR. J. G. TALBOTasked the Vice President of the Council, Whether the paragraph which has appeared in the public journals is correct, to the effect that the London School Board have, in the course of the present year, entered into contracts for ten new schools, and for the enlargement of twenty-two existing schools, at a total outlay of £123,462; and, whether the Education Department, before sanctioning such an outlay, have taken means to satisfy themselves that so large an addition to the schools buildings of the Metropolis is really required, and that no undue competition with existing schools will be thereby sanctioned?
§ MR. MUNDELLASir, in reply to an inquiry which I have made of the London School Board, I have received the following Statement:—
The contracts accepted by the Board during the current year, are as follows—Sanctioned by Education Department to August 22, 1883. Eight new schools, accommodation 7,263, amount of tenders £81,061; 11 enlargements, accommodation 3,920, amount of tenders £38,441; total—accommodation 111,183, amount of tenders £120,102.My answer to the second part of the Question is in the affirmative in every particular. After the School Board has made its proposal, Her Majesty's Inspectors and the Department satisfy themselves, in every case, that the accommodation is required. They are bound to do this under Section 10 of the Act of 1873. I must remind the hon. Member that, apart from the large existing deficiency of accommodation within the Metropolis, the growth of population alone necessitates additional provision for 10,000 children every year. The Census for 1881 showed an increase of population of 600,000 over that of 1871. Of course, the normal increase becomes larger every year.