§ MR. T. P. WHITTAKER (York, W. R., Spen Valley)I beg to ask the Vice President of the Committee of 1252 Council on Education whether, when he stated that no claim for arrears for School Boards, under Section 97 of the Act of 1870, has yet been received, he had overlooked the correspondence of the Department with the Heckmond wike School Board, and especially their letter of 2nd June, and the reply of the Department of 4th June which said that their Lordships cannot now entertain the claim for the year ending 29th September 1894; and, whether in view of his statement that claims would be considered in a fair spirit, and if necessary, legal advice would be taken, he took legal advice with regard to the claim from Heckmondwike, and can now state the views of the Department with regard to the payment of these arrears?
§ THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (Sir JOHN GORST,) Cambridge UniversityThe correspondence referred to in paragraph one of the Question has recently been brought to my notice. The whole question of the liability of the Government for arrears is under the consideration of the Committee of Council. They will take such legal advice as they may deemed necessary, but some time must necessarily elapse before a decision can be arrived at.
§ MR. WHITTAKERI beg to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education whether, when the Education Department estimates the amount of money required for the service of the year, it knows what amounts the various school boards are entitled to under Section 97 of the Act of 1870, and makes provision accordingly, whether all the boards entitled to the aid ultimately apply for the amount due or not?
§ SIR J. GORSTNo, Sir; the estimate is based on the number of boards which, on a comparison with previous years, are considered likely to apply for the grant.