§ MR. E. STRACHEY (Somerset, S.)I beg to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education whether he is aware that, in consequence of the refusal of his Department to continue any payment of Government Grants to Elm National School, which has been the recognised public elementary school of the small parish of Elm, Somerset, for over 20 years, this school, as matters now stand, will be closed on the 29th proximo, the whole teaching staff being under notice of discharge at the same time, and that the parish will thus be left at that date without any public day school, unless the Vice President authorises a continuance of the recognition of the school in its present premises for a further term, and whether, under these circumstances, he is willing to extend the period of recognition for another school year, namely for the 12 months ending 31st May 1897, which will make it possible to make arrangements for carrying on the school in the present premises, without any break of continuity, and enable the parishioners to consider their 841 position a few months hence in connection with whatever legislation may be introduced next Session for the assistance of small rural schools of this character; whether the report of Mr. King, Her Majesty's Inspector, after his annual inspection of this school in the summer of 1895, contained any remarks on the previous condemnation of the present school buildings by another inspector in 1893, which was overruled by the late Vice President as long as he remained in office, in response to a memorial addressed to him, signed, with but one or two exceptions, by all the ratepayers and heads of families resident in the parish, representing that such condemnation was unmerited and uncalled for, and that the school buildings and premises were exceptionally healthy and convenient in situation, and well provided in the matter of yards, offices, water supply (laid on), air space, and floor space; and, whether he is willing to state to the House the substance of such remarks, if any, in Mr. King's report referred to, as none were given to the managers of the school in the so-called summary of this report?
§ SIR JOHN GORSTsaid that he was unable to answer the question in detail, as in the time allowed he had not had time to ascertain the facts; but he understood the school referred to was held in a converted coach house.
§ MR. W. E. M. TOMLINSON (Preston)asked whether it would be an objection to build up a coach house for a school house?
§ SIR J. GORSTNo, not if the coach house is suitable. This is not suitable.