§ SIR J. GORST (Cambridge University)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether pressure is being at present applied by the Local Government Board to any of the Boards of Guardians in the Metropolis for the purpose of obtaining an extension of the accommodation in pauper district schools; and whether, in view of the proved inadequacy of the district school system for the proper education of pauper children, he will pledge himself that no extension of district schools shall take place until a complete and public inquiry has been held into the merits of the various methods of dealing with these children?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. SHAW-LEFEVRE, Bradford, Central)There are cases in which additional provision for pauper children of Unions included in school districts is necessary, and the question how such additional accommodation should be provided is now under the consideration of the managers and of the Board. I cannot admit that there has been any proved inadequacy of these district schools. At the same time, the Board do not favour the aggregation of very large numbers of children in the same building, and careful consideration will be given to the question as to how the additional provision can best be made in connection with the circumstances of each particular case.