§ MR. HEDDERWICK (Wick Burghs)I beg to ask the Vice-President of the Committee of Council on Education whether there has been any falling off in the subscriptions of the supporters of Voluntary schools in England since the Voluntary Schools. Act, 1897, was passed; and, if so, whether he can state the total amount of the diminution?
§ SIR J. GORSTYes. The amount of the diminution in the year ended August 31st, 1898, as compared with the previous year was £46,961 in Church of England schools, £21,174 in Roman Catholic schools, £2,607 in Wesleyan other undenominational schools—total, schools, and £7,185 in British and £77,927.
§ MR. McKENNA (Monmouth, N.)Can the right honourable Gentleman say whether he attributes the decline to the effect of the Voluntary Schools Act, 1897?
§ [No Reply.]