§ MR. DALZIEL (Kirkcaldy, &c.)I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland whether School Boards have power to enforce payment for school books; whether he is aware that payment is enforced in numerous districts in Scotland; and whether any representation has been, or can be, made on the subject by the Education Department?
§ THE SECRETARY FOR SCOTLAND (Sir G. TREVELYAN,) Glasgow, BridgetonIn answer to previous 683 questions, I have already slated that an adequate supply of school books is necessary for the efficiency of a school upon which efficiency the grant depends; and that it is not consistent with Regulations providing for the relief of fees that a fixed charge for the use of books should be made. The Department is prepared to deal with any case in which either of these conditions is infringed. But the case is different when the property in the books is acquired by the children, and the Department is not, therefore, prepared to lay down any rule which can be universally applied.