ADMIRAL FIELD (Sussex, Eastbourne)I beg to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education, with regard to the fact that the Eastbourne Voluntary Schools Extension Committee, after having provided, at the suggestion of the Education Department, more than 1,700 additional school places, at a cost of about £11,000, have again been called upon to make further provision, and this time for infants only; 744 whether he is aware that there is ample provision in the existing schools at Eastbourne for infants of five and upwards; whether the Department's new statistics of alleged deficiency contemplate provision for infants under five and as young as three; and, whether there is any statutory authority for imposing on the school managers at Eastbourne or anywhere else the heavy burden of providing accommodation in their schools for infants of three years old?
§ SIR JOHN GORSTThe facts are as stated in the Question, but no notice directing further accommodation to be provided has yet been issued. The statistics do contemplate provision for infants between three and five years of age. Under Section 5 of Elementary Education Act 1891, public school accommodation without payment of fees must be provided for children over three.