HC Deb 01 June 1893 vol 12 cc1749-50
MR. TALBOT (Oxford University)

I beg to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education whether he will cause inquiry to be made as to whether the Walsall Bluecoat Schools are practically higher grade schools for the town of Walsall; and, in the event of this being the case, whether he will re-consider his refusal to sanction the imposition of fees under Section 4 (1) of "The Elementary Education Act, 1891"?

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

The school in question is not a higher grade school in any greater degree than many others in which education is completely free. There is no sufficient evidence that it would be for the educational benefit of the district to allow the school to charge fees under the section of the Act named.

*MR. J. G. TALBOT

Did the right hon. Gentleman get the information that this was not a higher grade school from local sources?

MR. ACLAND

I inquired carefully into the case. I had all the evidence before me, and I came to a decision on that evidence.