§ MR. J. A. JACOBY (Derbyshire, Mid)I beg to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education (1) whether a final notice, issued to Matlock, Derbyshire, for about 100 free places, expired some mouths ago; and whether these free places have yet been supplied; if not, whether he will put the Act of Parliament in force and set up a School Board without further delay?
The same hon. MEMBER further asked (2) whether the structural alterations in the British School, Matlock, called for in February, 1892, the plans for which were approved in February, 1893, have yet been made; if not, whether the Department intends to continue its recognition of the school after the close of the current school year; (3) whether Her Majesty's Inspector recommended that the managers of St. Giles' Church of England Schools, Matlock, should be called upon to provide a playground; and whether the managers have taken any steps to carry out this recommendation; if not, whether the Department is going to take measures to enforce it?
§ MR. ACLAND, in reply, said: (1) A final notice for 103 free places with a period of one month, was issued on July 26 last. But while this notice was running, an order of the Derbyshire County Council, under the Local Government Act of 1888, divided Matlock into two parishes, and made the notices issued inapplicable. The whole inquiry had to be gone into again, and a fresh notice could not be issued till the 4th of this month, which is now running its course. (2) The alterations in the British School, for which plans were approved in February, 1893, have not been made. I understand that the managers are unable to raise funds, and that the school is likely to be closed. The report for the school year just ended is now being considered. (3) Her Majesty's Inspector reports that the Matlock Church School is provided with a playground, and no recommendation appears to have been made with regard to it.