§ LORD G. HAMILTON (Middlesex, Ealing)I beg to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education whether he will consider the hardship inflicted upon Voluntary Schools by the recently introduced practice of the Education Department of not allowing (as permitted by the 10th section of "The Education Act, 1870,") the full time of six months for providing a deficiency of public school accommodation before issuing the Order for the formation of a School Board?
§ THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (Mr. ACLAND, York, W.R., Rotherham)Six months is the maximum period allowed by the Act. It has not been by any means the universal practice in past years to allow that period. The practice is to allow a period varying according to the circum- 1141 stances of each case, taking into account such points as the time which has elapsed since the first notice and the question whether a Public Inquiry has been held. I am not aware of any special hardship; but if the noble Lord will call my attention to any particular case I will explain it to him. It must always be remembered that, as a rule, the longer the time which is allowed for supplying the deficiency, the longer must the children for whom accommodation is required remain in the streets without proper provision being made for their schooling.
§ LORD G. HAMILTONIs the Public Inquiry held in every case, whether the six months are allowed or not?
§ MR. ACLANDIn some of the more important cases, such as Eastbourne, there has been an inquiry, but in others that has not been necessary, as both parties have agreed upon a given term.
§ MR. BARTLEY (Islington, N.)Is it not practically impossible where there is a deficiency to supply it in less than six months?
§ MR. ACLANDThis six months does not occur at the first part of the proceedings. At the beginning there is a considerable amount of correspondence; then the first notice; then, if necessary, the Public Inquiry; and then the final notice, or last stage.