§ LORD HUGH CECIL (Greenwich)I beg to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education whether he is aware that the school of St. Stephen's, Lewisham, has suffered a serious temporary diminution of attendance, owing to the fear of infectious disease; whether the managers of the school acted in accordance with the regulations of the Department in keeping it open in spite of what was an unreasonable panic; whether, seeing that the school will suffer severely in its grant in consequence, and that under Article 101 of the Code, had it been closed, the period in which it was 1436 so closed would not have been reckoned in calculating the attendance, the Education Department can discriminate in favour of a school in this position and allow them the full grant; and whether, if the Department have no such power, they will consider the propriety of applying to Parliament to extend their discretion in the matter?
§ THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (Sir J. GORST,) Cambridge UniversityThe facts are as stated, but the Committee of Council have no power to exercise the discretion suggested. The case is very exceptional, but the matter will be considered in connection with next year's Code.