HC Deb 27 February 1893 vol 9 c419
MR. BONSOR (Surrey, Wimbledon)

I beg to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education whether 1,000 acres of dairy land in Sussex, 37 miles from London, have been contracted for as the site for the boarding schools for 700 boys, 350 girls, and 120 infants of the future Christ's Hospital, which, by the scheme approved by Her Majesty, are to 'be built within a convenient distance from the City of London; whether the whole Governing Body of 43 set up by the scheme approved of such location for a metropolitan foundation of three centuries' life in the City of London itself; and whether he will be good enough to give the reasons for such a choice?

MR. T. E. ELLIS

I am asked by my right hon. Friend to reply to this. The Council of Almoners of Christ's Hospital, with the consent of the Charity Commissioners, have concluded the purchase of about 1,000 acres of land near Horsham, on which their new boarding schools are to be built. The Charity Commissioners have no knowledge whether any members of the Governing Body dissented from the purchase. The choice was that of a Governing Body, eminently qualified to act for the best, and the Commissioners saw no ground for withholding their assent to it.

MR. BONSOR

Does the hon. Gentleman consider 37 miles a "convenient distance from London"?

MR. T. E. ELLIS

The distance is getting less every year. The Charity Commissioners have specially considered this matter, and felt that they could not interfere with the deliberate decision of the Council of Christ's Hospital.