§ SIR J. WHITEHEAD (Leicester)In the absence of my hon. Colleague (Mr. Picton), I beg to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education on what date Her Majesty's Inspector first reported adversely on the structural condition of the British School, Matlock, and how often the attention of the managers has been called to the matter; whether the managers have yet taken any steps to remedy the defects complained of; whether it is a fact that this school has no playground, and that the sanitary arrangements are defective; whether complaints about the state of the school have been sent to him by parents of the children attending it; and whether, seeing that the annual inspection is just over, he will now peremptorily decline further recognition to the school?
§ THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (Mr. ACLAND, York, W.R., Rotherham)Her Majesty's Inspector reported adversely on this school after the inspection in February, 1892, and the attention of the managers was called to his Report in March. Plans for alterations were submitted by the managers in May and a lengthy correspondence followed. During the summer of 1892 the managers were in negotiation for additional site, and they submitted fresh plans in September which, after further protracted correspondence, were finally approved in February, 1893. Her Majesty's Inspector reported to the Department in August last that nothing had been done towards carrying out the alterations, and the managers were subsequently warned that the school in its present condition could not continue to be recognised indefinitely. The school has no playground, and is in parts damp and insufficiently lighted and ventilated. Complaints have been received from a parent of children attending it that it is cold and draughty. The last Annual Report has just been received, and is now under consideration. It appears from it that no alterations have yet been made.