§ MR. J. COLVILLE (Lanark, N.E.)I beg to ask the Lord Advocate whether a circular was recently issued to Parish Councils instructing them to assess all Board Schools; and, if so, why such schools were previously exempt from the payment of local rates?
§ THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. GRAHAM MURRAY, Buteshire)It is the fact that in October last the Local Government Board issued a circular to the Parish Councils bringing to their notice the state of the law in regard to exemption from assessments. In this circular it was, among other matters, pointed out that Board Schools which had in some cases been erroneously exempted were not entitled to that exemption. As the hon. Member will observe, no change has been made; and the erroneous practice was confined to some particular localities.