MR. EGERTON ALLEN (Pembroke, &c.)I beg to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education whether he is aware that great disturbance and agitation has arisen at Fish-guard consequent on the proposed dismissal of Mr. J. F. Drew, the Head Master of the National Schools, by the Vicar, on the ground (as Mr. Drew alleges) that he refused to be a party to a misleading Return to the Education Department in connection with a pupil teacher; and whether he will cause inquiry to be made into the truth of these allegations?
§ THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (Mr. ACLAND,) York, W.R., RotherhamI am informed by the Managers that Mr. Drew does not regard the notice of dismissal served upon him as a legal notice. Otherwise, my only information as to the circumstances referred to by the hon. Member is derived from statements in the Press. The Education Department have no power of intervening to prevent the dismissal of a teacher; but they have power to require accurate Returns from the Managers; and I will cause inquiry to be made as regards the allegation that the Return mentioned was incorrect, and that the teacher, therefore, refused to be a party to it.