HC Deb 14 July 1898 vol 61 cc955-6
VISCOUNT VALENTIA (Oxford)

I beg to ask the Vice-President of the Committee of Council on Education whether he is aware that the Education Department is breaking up the Voluntary system in the city of Oxford, by the arbitrary re-arrangement of districts, and by the suggestion (in a letter from the Department to the Oxford School Board of 2nd July) of arbitrary standards of computing accommodation, so as to prevent the existing schools providing for the number of children hitherto recognised by the late inspector and by the Department itself; whether there is any intention of treating the accommodation of the schools built and enlarged on the basis of allowing eight square feet per child, as if they were constructed upon the 10 square feet basis recently adopted by the Department, and declared to have no retrospective application; and whether, in view of the widespread dissatisfaction caused by the action of Her Majesty's inspector, the Department will reconsider its refusal to grant the special inquiry provided in the Education Act for such cases, and respectfully requested both by the Oxford School Board and by the Church school managers assembled to consider the subject?

SIR J. GORST

I cannot admit that the Education Department are taking the action described in the first paragraph of the Question. The letter of the 2nd July contained no suggestion of arbitrary standards of computing accommodation. The answer to the second paragraph is in the negative. No special inquiry is provided in the Education Acts for such cases. The Department have already carefully inquired, and are still inquiring, into the whole case.

MR. J. G. TALBOT (Oxford University)

Will further inquiry be made at Oxford?

SIR J. GORST

I said the Department were making inquiries.

MR. J. G. TALBOT

On the spot?

SIR J. GORST

Yes.

LORD CRANBORNE (Rochester)

Will the right honourable Gentleman give an indication to the House of the result of the inquiries before any definite action is taken?

SIR J. GORST

Yes; if any honourable Member will ask a Question in the course of a day or two.