MR. EGERTON ALLEN (Pembroke, &c.)I beg to ask the Parliamentary Charity Commissioner whether the clauses in the Intermediate School Schemes of Carnarvon and Merioneth relating to religious instruction and observances in hostels of a school will exclude the reading of collects as a part of family worship?
§ *MR. T. E. ELLISA similar question was asked a few days ago by the hon. Member for Islington, to which, under a misapprehension as to its purport, I gave a reply which I desire to modify. It would appear, from a consideration of the provisions of the two Schemes to which the hon. Member refers, that they do not exclude the reading of collects as a part of family worship, provided that those collects are not formularies of any particular denomination.
§ MR. BARTLEYDo I understand that the answer given to me by the hon. Gentleman last week was given under a misapprehension, and that these Collects are allowed under the Scheme to form part of religious worship in these hostels?
§ *MR. T. E. ELLISYes, with the provision inserted in the Scheme that they are not formularies of any particular denomination. The matter will first be decided by the local Governing Body, and if they have any further difficulty a further application will have to be made to the Charity Commissioners under Clause 106 of the Scheme for Carnarvonshire and Clause 101 of the Scheme for Merionethshire.
§ MR. BARTLEYIs it not somewhat difficult to say that a portion of the Church of England Liturgy and Collects are not part of denominational teaching? Surely, inasmuch as they form part— [Cries of "Order!"]—of a religious 645 service, are they not fairly—[Renewed Cries of "Order!"]
§ *MR. SPEAKEROrder, order! The hon. Gentleman is arguing now that they are part of denominational teaching.