§ COLONEL SANDYS (Lancashire, S.W., Bootle)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, What provision is being made for the instruction in religion of the Roman Catholic children in the Day Industrial School now being built in Manchester by the school board of that city; has the consent of the Home Office been given for the erection of a separate department, and for the provision of separate teachers for these children; if so, under what provisions of the Education Acts, or of the Industrial Schools Acts, or the Orders of the Privy Council have these arrangements been made; how can such actions be reconciled with the fundamental principle of the Education Acts that no denominational formulary is to be taught in an elementary school under a school board; and, if separate provisions can be made for the instruction of Roman Catholic children in their religion, are other Religious Bodies entitled to similar provision?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. MATTHEWS) (Birmingham, E.)The Home Office Regulations will require that due provision be made for the religious instruction of the Roman Catholic children attending the day industrial school now being built in Manchester. These arrangements will be under the Order in Council made on March 20, 1877, concerning day industrial schools. A separate department will not be required; the question of separate teachers will rest with the school board. No attempt will be made to detach children from the denomination to which they belong. Other Religious Bodies are entitled to similar provisions—that is, at the option of the parents, provision can be made, with the approval of the Board, for children to attend religious instruction or services conducted by ministers of their respective creeds.