§ LORD R. CHURCHILL (Paddington, S.)I beg to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education whether he has had submitted to him a Petition from certain persons, inhabitants of the St. James's District, in the Borough of South Paddington, praying that the St. James's Schools should be made free, or that a Board School should be established; and, if so, whether, before acceding to the desire of the Petitioners, he would make a special inquiry into the matter whether there is a demand or 344 necessity for any change in the district, and generally ascertain the local opinion?
§ THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (Mr. ACLAND,) York, W.R., RotherhamA Petition for free education under Section 5 of the Act of 1891 has been received by the Department from parents of children attending the St. James's Schools, and it became the duty of the Department to take steps under that section. A counter-Petition has been subsequently received, and various expressions of local opinion have been laid before the Department by the Vicar of Paddington and other persons interested. In accordance with usual practice, full and special inquiry is being made into the case by Her Majesty's Inspectors, and when the number of children for whom free places are claimed, and are not available in existing schools, has been accurately determined, it will be the duty of the Department under the Statute to cause such number of free places to be provided.
§ LORD R. CHURCHILLwas understood to inquire if the Department did not examine into the class of residents who petitioned for free places?
§ MR. ACLANDWe are making careful inquiry as to the bona fides of the signatures. Whatever class persons who choose to ask for free places may belong to we are bound to see that such free places are provided in an elementary school if the application is bonâ fide.