§ MR. P. STANHOPE (Wednesbury)I beg to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education whether, having had sufficient opportunity to consider the representations which the Education Department have received from Handsworth, Staffordshire, he is now prepared to take steps, under Sub-section (2) of Section 12 of the Education Act of 1870, in order to constitute a School Board for Handsworth?
§ * SIR W. HART DYKEThe case was not so clear as to justify the Department in acting under Section 12 1121 (2) of the Elementary Education Act, 1870, and notices are in course of preparation for the supply of the deficiency in the manner prescribed by Section 9, but if the feeling of the inhabitants is strongly in favour of a School Board being set up immediately they cannot do better than pass a resolution to that effect under Section 12 (1).
§ MR. MUNDELLA (Sheffield, Brightside)I should like to ask whether in this and all other cases the rule applies with respect to applications?
§ * SIR W. HART DYKEI have fully answered that question in regard to the application of the section in this particular case, and I am not sure that I know what exceptions the right hon. Gentleman has in his mind.
§ MR. MUNDELLAI understood the right hon. Gentleman to say that it does not apply to London.
§ * SIR W. HART DYKEOh, no, Sir. Does the right hon. Gentleman refer to a previous question?
§ MR. MUNDELLAI do.
§ * SIR W. HART DYKEI do not know whether I am in Order in referring to a previous question, but if I am I can only repeat that the particular case is before the Department, and a final decision has not been arrived at. I have already stated that the Permanent Secretary is away, and I have not been able to confer with him in the matter.