HC Deb 16 July 1896 vol 42 c1641
MR. JAMES STUART

I beg to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education, whether he will take such steps as may be necessary to place under the inspection of the Education Department, the education of the children in those Poor Law schools where the guardians desire to transfer such inspection from the Local Government Board to the Education Department, and where the Local Government Board assents?

SIR J. GORST

From 1846 to 1863 the Committee of Council inspected the educational part of the work of Poor Law schools; but the arrangement was found to cause so much friction that in 1863 these inspectors were transferred to the Poor Law Board. The Committee of Council doubt the expediency of separating the educational from the other inspection of these schools, but they are in communication with the Local Government Board upon the subject.

MR. STUART

asked whether the right hon. Gentleman's attention had been drawn to the report of the recent Commission on Poor Law Schools, in which it was said that the educational work of those schools should be brought under the supervision of the Education Department, and whether the right hon. Gentleman signed that report?

SIR J. GORST

Yes, Sir; I am aware of that report. I signed it myself. [Laughter.]