§ MR. RADCLIFFE COOKE (Hereford)I beg to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education whether the Education Department have approved of plans submitted to them by the School Board of Ross, in the County of Hereford, for the enlargement of the infant school so as to accommodate 66 additional children, although there is now sufficient accommodation for 70 more than the average number attending the school last year; whether he is aware that the playgrounds surround- 683 ing the Ross Board Schools, which are now below the minimum area required by the Code for the number of children in attendance, will be reduced if the above-named plans be carried out to such an extent as to require enlargement, which would be almost impossible and certainly most costly, in consequence of the Ross Board Schools being situated on a steep slope and surrounded by property of a highly valuable character; whether the Department have sanctioned a loan to the Ross School Board of £1,400, of which £956 is to be expended on buildings for the accommodation of 66 children, being nearly £5 per head more than is allowed under Schedule VII., Rule 20, of the Code; and whether, under the plans sanctioned by the Department, the infants will have to ascend a staircase of considerable height in order to get into their schoolroom; if so, whether this would be in direct contravention of Schedule VII., Rule 16 (b), which requires that an infants' school should always be on the ground floor?
§ THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (Mr. ACLAND,) York, W.R., RotherhamThe Department have approved, subject to certain alterations of detail, plans submitted by the School Board for Ross providing additional accommodation for 116 children (36 girls and 80 infants), and have sanctioned a loan of £1,400 for this enlargement and the expenses consequent upon it. I may point out that where additional accommodation is necessary in the opinion of the Board, they are empowered by the Education Act of 1870 to provide it. The rule as to loans not exceeding £10 per head applies to new buildings, not to alterations, which involve an expense that depends on other circumstances as well as the additional space provided, and which may require to be made even when no additional places at all are provided thereby. In such cases the Department consider whether the loan asked for is reasonable in view of the work to be done, and the whole cost of the school. In the absence of the plans, which were returned to the Board when approved, I am not able to give details as to the playground. If the new infant room encroaches on the playground it would seem to follow that it must be on the ground floor. It is certainly approached by steps, but whether these are rendered 684 necessary by the slope of the ground I cannot say. If the hon. Member desires further information, and will let me know, I can have the plans sent for, and inform him on these points either privately or across the floor of the House.
§ MR. RADCLIFFE COOKEI should like to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he is aware that probably before long occasion will arise for the erection of new schools very near to the present Board schools, and that those schools when erected will certainly draw away a large number of scholars from the Board schools, which are on a very inconvenient site? Will he cause some inquiry to be made as to the desirability of laying out a large sum of money on the present Board schools, when probably new schools at a less cost will be erected near?
§ MR. ACLANDI will cause inquiries to be made.