§ MR. A. GROVE (West Ham, N.)I beg to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education 468 whether, in view of the unequal incidence of the School Board Rate, and of the hardship inflicted upon localities where large numbers of the working classes are collected, and the assessable value is in consequence low, he can introduce a Bill to remedy this inequality, or appoint a Select Committee to inquire into the question?
§ THE VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL(Mr. A.H. D. ACLAND, YORK, W.R., Rotherham)I fully recognise the great hardships caused to certain school districts by the pressure of the School Board Rate, where the industrial population is large and the rateable value low. The question is one of considerable difficulty. I am afraid immediate legislation is not possible, but I have directed that inquiry shall be made in the department into the facts as they affect various localities, so that they may be carefully tabulated. As the question is only part of a very much larger question, the Government do not find it possible to appoint a Select Committee on it at present.
§ In further reply to Mr. GROVE,
§ MR. ACLANDsaid he would consider the question of appointing a Select Committee to inquire into the matter.