DR. CAMERONasked the Lord Advocate if it is within the knowledge of the Scotch Education Department that the school accommodation in the parish of Ochiltree, Ayrshire, has for a number of years past been deficient, and what steps the Department proposes to take to enforce the direction which it conveyed to the Ochiltree School Board on the 21st June, 1888, that sufficient school accommodation should be provided in some situation which shall be convenient for the children of parents connected with the Trabloch Colliery?
§ *MR. J. P. B. ROBERTSONThe Scotch Education Department has been in communication with the School Board of Ochiltree on the subject of the school accommodation which, as their Lordships believe, is admitted to be required, but the question is complicated by a dispute 393 between the School Boards of Ochiltree and Stair as to the respective obligations of these Boards. The Chief Inspector visited the district on th 9th of January, and on his recommendation a proposal was revived under which the Colliery Company were to give the use of certain houses for a temporary school. The Department were, however, informed by the School Board only on the 11th of March, that this offer was withdrawn, and that the School Board would not have to look out for another site. The Board were urged on the 15th of March to come to a decision as to this as quickly as possible, and my Lords will use every effort to press the matter forward.