MR. CARVELL WILLIAMS (Notts, Mansfield)I beg to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education whether there is a serious deficiency of elementary school accommodation in the Parish of Enfield, Middlesex; whether he is aware that, at the Enfield Petty Sessions on the 17th July, several parents who had been summoned for neglecting to send their children to school pleaded that admission could not be obtained for them in existing schools, and for that reason the fines inflicted were, in some cases, paid by one of the 1194 Magistrates; and whether, having regard to such deficiency, and to the continuous growth of the population, already amounting to 35,000, the Education Department will take the requisite steps for the early formation of a School Board?
§ THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (Mr. ACLAND, York, W.R., Rotherham)I have no official information as to the case of the parents referred to by the hon. Member. But a very careful inquiry has been in progress for several months as to the deficiency at Enfield, and notices have now been issued requiring additional accommodation to be provided for 519 children independently of the enlargement of St. Luke's National School, which is now in progress. The continuous growth of the population has been borne in mind in estimating the number of places required. If the requirements of the Department with regard to this additional provision should not be met with due despatch by voluntary effort, it would become their duty under the Act to order the formation of a School Board for the purpose of supplying the deficiency.