§ CAPTAIN GRICE-HUTCHINSON (Aston Manor)I beg to ask the Vice-President of the Committee of Council on Education whether the Education Department has sanctioned the expenditure of £25,000 or thereabouts on the erection of higher grade Board schools in Aston Manor (which is a necessitous school board district), in spite of the protest of the ratepayers, who, in public meeting assembled, on June 28th, rejected the adoption of the scheme by an overwhelming majority; and, if so, whether the Department can see its way to reconsider their decision. In putting the Question I wish to explain that the ratepayers are not opposed to the principle, but object to the unnecessarily large expenditure?
§ SIR. J. GORSTA loan of £23,000 has been sanctioned to provide for the rehousing and improvement of an existing higher grade school, and the building of a pupil teacher centre and a school for deaf children. The Department have communicated their approval of the plans to the Board, and see no reason to reconsider their decision.