§ CAPTAIN SINCLAIR (Forfar)I beg to ask the Lord Advocate whether, in conformity with Clause 68 of the Education (Scotland) Act, 1872, establishing a conscience clause, and under the regulations of a time table approved by the Scotch Education Department, religious observances are practised or instruction in religious subjects is given according to the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church, or according to the teaching of the Scottish Episcopal Church, in certain School Board schools in Scotland; and if so, in what schools and in how many such schools respectively?
§ *THE LORD ADVOCATEI understand that in certain Board Schools in Scotland instruction in religious subjects is given according to the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church, but the Department has no official information on the subject, and, as the matter is one entirely within the discretion of the School Board, the Department hesitates to make it a matter of official inquiry. I do not know whether in any case such instruction is given according to the teaching of the Scottish Episcopal Church.