§ MR. TOMLINSON (Preston)I beg to ask the Vice-President of the Committee of Council on Education whether his attention has been called to the fact that the School Board for London and other school boards in the country are providing swimming baths at the cost of the ratepayers; whether such expenditure is legal, and, if legal, is it encouraged by his Department; whether such swimming baths are intended for the exclusive use of the children attend- 371 ing the Board schools, or whether children attending Voluntary schools within the School Board areas, the supporters of which contribute to the School Board rates, are to be allowed to participate in the use of the swimming baths; and whether, in case the School Boards are unable or unwilling to allow children educated in Voluntary schools to share in the privilege of using the swimming baths, he will endeavour, by legislation or by alteration of the Code, to provide for their admission equally with the School Board children?
§ THE VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL ON EDUCATION (Sir J. GORST, Cambridge University)The answers to paragraphs 1 and 2 are in the affirmative. Swimming is recognised as a subject of instruction under the Code. The School Board will decide in each case whether Voluntary school children are to be admitted to the baths. If any extra expense were caused thereby, the auditor would determine its legality. No alteration of the Code would provide for the compulsory admission of Voluntary school children to such swimming baths. The Government could not undertake at present to legislate on the subject.