§ EARL COMPTON (York, W.R., Barnsley)I beg to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education whether his attention has been called to a poster, printed at Wath-on-Dearne, Yorkshire, in which it is stated that a Petition against the Home Rule Bill can be signed at the Victoria and National Schools, Wath, from 10th April to 10th April inclusive, between the hours of 12 and 1 (noon) each day; and whether, if National Schools are to be used for such political purposes, Her Majesty's Government will take the first favourable opportunity of giving legislative effect to the unanimous Resolution of the House, passed 26th February, 1892, in order that political Parties may have equal privileges in the use of National Schools?
§ MR. ACLANDMy attention has been called to the poster in question. I think it is to be regretted that schools in receipt of Parliamentary grants should be used for political purposes of this sort if it can be avoided. With regard to the use of schools for public meetings, a Bill on this subject has been drafted, and will on the first favourable opportunity be submitted to Parliament, though I doubt if it will be possible in the course of this Session.