§ MR. BRINTONasked the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education, Whether he is aware that the acting Justices for the Petty Sessional Division of Brimstred South and Chelmarsh, in Shropshire, expressly ordered, on the 18th of August last, that in all cases of offences against the Education Act, all costs shall be paid by the School Attendance Committee as complainant, and that the fines in such cases be paid to the complainant towards payment of such costs; such cost, deducting the fines, amounted last half-year in this division to £25 2s. 8d.; that a similar course is taken by the Borough Bench at Shrewsbury, whose costs as against complainant amounted in four months last year to £15 4s.; and, whether he can suggest any legislative remedy for meeting difficulties of this character, which tend to impede the successful working of the Education Act in these districts?
§ MR. MUNDELLAI was not aware that the course specified had been adopted. There can be no doubt that the throwing of the costs upon the School Attendance Committee impedes the working of the Education Acts and increases the rate; but I see no remedy for this action on the part of the magistrates without fresh legislation. I find that in West Somerset, where the magistrates have co-operated with the School Attendance Committees, the most beneficial results have followed, and attendance has risen from 70 up to 80 and even 86 per cent.