§ MR. HERBERT GARDNER (Essex, Saffron Walden)I beg to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education whether he is aware of the difficulty which exists in villages and rural districts of obtaining suitable buildings for the purpose of holding public meetings, and whether he will consider the desirability of proposing or accepting legislation which shall secure 240 to the ratepayers of a district, under certain safeguards as to interference with educational purposes and injury to the buildings, the use of rooms in schools in receipt of Parliamentary grants for local public purposes?
§ SIR W. HART DYKEI believe the difficulty, which at one time existed, has been largely diminished, partly owing to increase in the number of village halls available for the purpose which the hon. Member has in view, and partly owing to the general desire on the part of managers of schools to meet all reasonable requirements in this connection, and I do not, therefore, as at present advised, see any necessity for further legislation of the character suggested.
§ MR. H. GARDNERI beg to give notice that on the Education Vote I will call attention to this subject.