§ MR. HUGH HOARE (Cambridge, Chesterton)I beg to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education whether the managers of a village school have any right to claim payment from parents for books or school materials as a condition of their children's admission to school, or whether the parents have had since September, 1892, the right to absolutely free schooling if they choose to demand it?
§ THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (Mr. ACLAND,) York, W.R., RotherhamManagers of schools in receipt of State aid, whether free schools or not, have no right to claim payment of any kind from parents for books or school materials as a condition of their children's admission to school. All children have a right to absolutely free education. But the Department cannot compel the managers of a school which has the right to charge fees under the Act of 1891 to admit children free. If in consequence of such a right being exercised by the managers, any children in a school district cannot obtain free education, the Department will cause free accommodation to be provided in accordance with the Act.