§ MR. BARTLEY (Islington, N.)I beg to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education if he will explain on what grounds the children in Birkdale, children of Protestant parents, are being sent to the Ainsdale Roman Catholic School against the wishes of their parents by order of the Education Department?
§ THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (Mr. ACLAND,) York., W. R., RotherhamI have already stated in reply to the question addressed to me with regard to this case by the hon. Member for Leicester, on the 17th inst., the Elementary Education Acts make no distinction between Roman Catholic and other schools, so long as they are public 671 elementary schools, and it is not possible under the law as it stands to compel the provision of further school accommodation in a district where the provision made by existing public elementary schools is already sufficient.
§ MR. BARTLEYAre we to understand that under the Free Education Act as now administered Protestant children may be compelled to go to Roman Catholic schools, and Roman Catholic children to Protestant schools?
§ MR. ACLANDThat is not a question of the Free Education Act. That Act does not alter the general law. The general law remains as it was before.