HC Deb 13 July 1896 vol 42 c1321
SIR WILLIAM HART DYKE (Kent, Dartford)

I beg to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education, whether the Education Department sanctions the use of elementary schools receiving the Government grant for the delivery of temperance or other lectures during school hours, such lectures being substituted for the routine work of the school, as specified in the time table, and attendance at them being counted as a school attendance?

THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (Sir JOHN GORST,) Cambridge University

Under Article 17 of the Code, the Committee of the Council have sometimes allowed lectures to be given during school hours, and the attendances to be counted, provided that notice is given of the alteration of the time table by an entry in the log-book. As regards the particular subject referred to by the hon. Member, the Committee of the Council have sanctioned lectures on the use and abuse of foods and drinks, but have always declined to allow "temperance lectures" commonly so-called.