§ MR. CHANNINGI beg to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education, whether he is aware that the school rate of Bozeat, Northamptonshire, is 1s. 10d. in the pound, the ratable value of the parish is £3,096, the produce of a 3d. rate is only £38 16s., the number of children in average attendance is 259, and the amount of 7s. 6d. per child is about £97; and that the School Board of Bozeat has been entitled to, but has not hitherto claimed, the supplementary grant, under Section 97 of the Elementary Education Act, 1870, for many years past; whether the Bozeat School Board will now be placed on the list of School Boards entitled to this supplementary grant; and, whether the Education Department can make any allowance to the Board in respect of the unclaimed arrears?
§ THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (Sir JOHN GORST,) Cambridge UniversityThe latest returns in possession of the Committee of Council give the rate raised as 1s. 8d. in the pound, the ratable value as £3,301, and the average attendance as 250. The gross produce of a 3d. rate would be £38 14s. The Board have not hitherto claimed a grant under Section 97, and no grant can now be paid for any year earlier than the year ended 29th September, 1895.
§ MR. CHANNINGasked whether the answer was to be understood as implying that the Bozeat School Board had established its right to the supplementary grant under Clause 97; whether the right hon. Gentleman had taken the opinion of any of the Law Officers upon the interpretation of Clause 97 as to the inclusion or exclusion of arrears; and, whether the Bozeat School Board was one of those included in the 426 Boards which would be entitled to the Special Aid grant?
§ SIR J. GORSTI cannot answer the latter Question without notice. The Committee of Council have no funds out of which to pay arrears.
§ MR. CHANNINGgave notice that he would call attention to the matter on the Education Vote.