HC Deb 15 February 1897 vol 46 cc394-5
MR. ALFRED HUTTON (York, W.R., Morley)

I beg to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education whether he is aware the St. James' School, Bolton, Bradford, has been closed by the managers; what sum they received as building grants; whether he is aware that, although the trust deeds require the premises to be used as a day school, the managers declined to lease the school to the Bradford School Board at a suitable rent; and whether the terms of Section 23 of the Act of 1870 had been complied with; and, if not, whether the Education Department can and will enforce the provisions of that Section?

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

This school, which received building grants amounting to £399 6s., and was held under the usual trusts for establishing a school for the poorer classes, was closed in 1893. The Committee of Council have no information as to the alleged refusal of the managers to lease the school to the Bradford School Board, but Section 23 of the Act of 1870 does not require any managers to transfer their school to a Board unless they wish it.

MR. ERNEST FLOWER (Bradford, W.)

asked if the right hon. Gentleman was aware that on Friday last the Bradford School Board concluded satisfactory negotiations with the managers of this school.

SIR J. GORST

No, Sir; I am not aware of that.