§ MR. R. G. WEBSTER (St. Pancras, E.)I beg to ask the Vice-President of the Committee of Council on Education if his attention has been called to the fact that, during the recent contested election for the Rotherham Division of Yorkshire, certain assistant masters in the School Board schools in the Aston-cum-Aughton district of that constituency distributed the polling cards and election literature of the Liberal candidate by handing them in the school to the School Board pupils; if they also permitted placards in support of the Liberal candidate to be affixed to the School Board building, built at the expense of the ratepayers; and if he will take steps, by circular or otherwise, to prevent a recurrence of such conduct by School Board officials.
§ THE VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL ON EDUCATION (Sir JOHN GORST,) Cambridge UniversityThe Committee of Council have received no complaint as to the facts alleged in the first two paragraphs from any person interested in the election. There is, therefore, no reason for the issue of a circular.
§ MR. WEBSTERWill the Vice-President make inquiries? I put the Question down for my personal knowledge?
§ SIR J. GORSTThe Question does not ask me to make inquiries; it asks me whether I am aware of the fact.