HC Deb 16 March 1894 vol 22 cc437-8
MR. JACKS (Stirlingshire)

I beg to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education if he is aware of the hardship caused to the industrial classes in Scotland, whose trade renders it necessary to remove frequently from place to place, by their children often losing the credit of several months' attendance, from requiring to leave before the end of a term; and that, in some cases, as much as two years' attendance, which they have given, is not credited to them, under present arrangements; and if he can undertake to introduce some schedule whereby proof of attendance will accompany the child from school to school, so as to release the parents from the loss caused by the present system?

THE SECRETARY FOR SCOTLAND (Sir G. TREVELYAN,) Glasgow, Bridgeton

(who replied)said: I think the hon. Member is under some misapprehension. Formerly, when a certain number of attendances were necessary in order to qualify a scholar for presentation, and a grant upon examination, the hardship of which he complains might have arisen. Rut under the present system all the attendances made by any scholar in a school during any part of a school year are counted towards the grant to that school, and the scholar is not prejudiced, as he supposes, by a change of school.

MR. JACKS

If I give cases will the right hon. Gentleman inquire?

SIR G. TREVELYAN

Certainly.

MR. JACKS

I beg to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education if he is aware of the loss caused to the industrial classes in Scotland, whose trade, makes it necessary for them frequently to change from place to place, by each School Board district having different books for the various standards; and if he will adopt such measures as will make it compulsory for a uniform book being used in the various standards in every Board school in Scotland?

SIR G. TREVELYAN

I regret that inconvenience should be caused by dif- ferent districts; and would be glad if the local School Authorities could do anything to lessen it. But the Department has always refrained from restricting the discretion of School Authorities in the choice of books; and I am unable to make any such compulsory Rule as the hon. Member suggests.

MR. DALZIEL (Kirkcaldy, &c.)

Have the Board power to enforce payment for books? Will the right hon. Gentleman take steps to make the law clear on that point?

SIR G. TREVELYAN

I should prefer that this question, on so extremely delicate and important a point, should be given notice of.

MR. DALZIEL

I will put it on Tuesday.