HC Deb 11 August 1893 vol 16 cc17-8
SIR W. HART DYKE (Kent, Dartford)

I beg to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education whether the Clause 91, Sec. 15 and C, in the Merionethshire Scheme, under the Welsh Intermediate Education Act, prohibits the user of the formularies of any particular denomination in the family worship of a hostel or boarding-house of a school connected with such denomination, and the teaching of the distinctive tenets of any particular denomination to boarders in any such hostel unless the County Governing Body so allow; and whether he is aware that the Welsh Intermediate Education Bill, as introduced by the President of the Board of Trade, was amended so as to confine its operations to day scholars only, so far as the prohibition of distinctive religious teaching is concerned?

THE VICE PKESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (Mr. ACLAND, York, W.R., Rotherham)

The right hon. Gentleman is perhaps aware that in this case I approved, with a very slight alteration, the Scheme of the Charity Commissioners in preference to that of the Joint Education Committee. On the general point the Charity Commissioners inform me that there is not, and cannot be, under this Scheme, any school connected with any particular denomination. The clause does not affect private lodgings, boarding-houses, or hostels not belonging to the school or foundation. The statement in the question as to the amendment of the Bill in Parliament is correct.

SIR W. HART DYKE

Do I understand the right hon. Gentleman to say that this clause is less intolerable because there is no school in the district that can possibly be affected by it?

*MR. STANLEY LEIGHTON (Shropshire, Oswestry)

I would ask the right hon. Gentleman whether this clause would not affect a hostel or boarding-house connected with an intermediate school, the master of which was the master of the school?

THE PARLIAMENTARY CHARITY COMMISSIONER (Mr. T. E. ELLIS, Merionethshire)

I think the Scheme would apply to all hostels that are in any way part of the foundation of the school, or in any way supported out of the county rate or out of the endowments which are included within the scope of the Scheme.

MR. STANLEY LEIGHTON

Then, under what Act—the Welsh Intermediate Education Act or the Endowed Schools Act—is the right to give instruction to boarders in the distinctive tenets of any denomination prohibited?

MR. T. E. ELLIS

I do not think it is prohibited in either, or in the Scheme. The County Governing Body have power to appoint head masters and to lay down any conditions as to their tenure of office both under the Welsh Intermediate Education Act and the Endowed Schools Act.

*MR. STANLEY LEIGHTON

Then what is the meaning of this clause in the Merionethshire Scheme— No distinctive tenet of any religious denomination shall be taught in boarding houses unless the County Governing Body shall allow? Under what Act is such a prohibition made?

MR. T. E. ELLIS

Under the Endowed Schools Act, 1869, and the following Acts.

MR. STANLEY LEIGHTON

Can the hon. Gentleman tell me the section?

SIR W. HART DYKE

Can the hon. Gentleman quote any Scheme under the Endowed Schools Acts of 1869 and 1875 where such a restriction is in existence?

MR. T. E. ELLIS

I must ask for notice of the question.