§ MR. J. G. TALBOT (Oxford University)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been drawn to the action of the Board of Guardians of the South Shields Union in requiring the attendance of children belonging to the Church of England at religious instruction given by Nonconformists, notwithstanding the objection in some cases of the parents, and in others of the clergyman standing for this purpose by law in loco parentis: and what steps he proposes to take in the matter.
§ MR. CHAPLINThe attention of the Local Government Board was called last year to the attendance of Church of England children in the workhouse of the South Shields Union at a service held in the workhouse weekly by the Sunday School Union. The Board communicated with the guardians, and they were informed that the services in question had been held in the workhouse for a great number of years, that they were conducted by laymen, and that no attempt had ever been made at the service to promulgate any denominational doctrine whatever.
§ MR. J. G. TALBOTWas not objection taken by some of the parents as well as by the chaplain?
§ MR. CHAPLINI believe objection was taken, and the reply was that no particular creed was taught.
§ LORD. CRANBORNE (Rochester)Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the 23 teaching complained of is Bible teaching, which involves all kinds of doctrines?
§ MR. CHAPLINI do not know about that.