§ MR CHANNINGI beg to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education whether it has been represented to him that the voluntary school managers at Eastbourne are prepared to supply 1,000 now school places; whether the plans of these proposed schools show sufficient area, playgrounds, &c, according to the Rules of Schedule VII. of the Code; whether it is satisfied that the promoters of these schools have at their disposal sufficient funds to complete them within a reasonable limit of time; if the representations made to him on these points are satisfactory; whether any proposal has been made for the provision of the 311 places remaining out of the 1,311, the final notice for which expired over a fortnight ago; whether a further deficiency of 365 places will be shortly created by the closing of the Wesleyan school; whether any substantial proportion of 1770 the 1,334 free places demanded by the parents in January last, the first notice for which was published on 20th March, has been supplied; and whether, in view of the deficiency both of school places, and of free school places, he will now give effect to the final notice, and set up a School Board?
§ MR. ACLANDThe Committee of Voluntary School Managers have submitted plans of two new schools. The buildings proposed would accommodate 461 children each, or 928 in all. One of these plans satisfies the Rules of the Department, and has been approved. With regard to the other, the proposed site is too small for the school proposed to be built upon it. Her Majesty's Inspector has suggested another site which he thinks would be satisfactory. As to the third school which is necessary, the managers inform the Department that steps are being taken to secure a site. The closure of the Wesleyan school at the end of the current school year will cause in March next a further deficiency of 365 places. It has been pointed out to the voluntary managers that if at any time the Department is satisfied that the accommodation required by the final notice is not being provided with due despatch, it will be their duty under the Statute to order the formation of a School Board, and that in consequence of the closure of the Wesleyan school the Department will also be empowered to create a Board under Section 12 (2) of the Act of 1870 without issuing any further notices, and will be justified in suspending such action only in the event of immediate steps being taken to supply the impending deficiency otherwise. As regards the funds at the disposal of the Committee of Managers, they stated about a mouth ago that, in addition to the gift of the two sites to which I have referred, the sum of £6,850 bad been guaranteed, and that further donations were still coming in. It is obvious that, in order to supply the total impending and actual deficiency, this sum would have to be very considerably supplemented. As regards the question of free education, so many places have been freed since the Department issued their first notice in March for 1,334 children, that the number in the final notice now being issued is reduced to 567. The requirements of this notice will be 1771 satisfied if the new schools required (which, of course, must be free schools) are provided. Under all these circumstances, the Department is very carefully considering the question whether duo despatch is being used in accordance with the Act.