HC Deb 27 July 1894 vol 27 cc1138-9
VISCOUNT CRANBORNE

I beg to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education whether the absence of any mention of Wales in the second and third parts of the Quarterly Return of Public Elementary Schools Warned means that there have been no schools in Wales from which the Department have threatened to withhold or postpone the grant for defective premises during the last quarter?

MR. ACLAND

It is so obvious on the face of the Return alluded to that no Welsh school is mentioned that I am obliged to suppose that the question has some further meaning. The facts are these: The Return is only for three months, from April 1st to June 30th. Out of 20,000 schools in England and Wales only 28 schools or parts of schools have been warned without suspension of grant, and only three have had their grant suspended. It happens, as would be expected, that a large number of English counties do not appear in this Return, nor do any Welsh counties. It is almost impossible to suppose that the noble Lord has any object in this question, unless be imputes unfair partiality to Inspectors of officers of the Department, with reference to schools in Wales during these three months. I must, not for the first time, tell the noble Lord that such insinuations against the Department are most objectionable, and most strongly to be deprecated in the interest of the Public Service.

VISCOUNT CRANBORNE

It appears that the right hon. Gentleman is entirely unable to appreciate that an hon. Member of this House—[Cries of "Order!" and "Question!"] I think I am entitled to make an explanation after what the right hon. Gentleman has said. I wish to say that I put down this question in order to obtain information which, I imagine, is the usual reason for which hon. Members ask questions.

MR. ACLAND

I may be allowed to say that the information is so patent on the face of the Return that it is impossible the question could be asked for that purpose.

VISCOUNT CRANBORNE

I can assure the right hon. Gentleman that such was the case, and he has no reason whatever to impute motives to hon. Members.

MR. BARTLEY (Islington, N.)

On this question I beg to give notice that on the Vote on Account I shall draw attention to the enormous increase of Church and other denominational schools warned by the Department.