§ SIR CHARLES CAMERONI beg to ask the Lord Advocate with respect to the 900 children of school age, inmates of the Orphan Homes of Scotland, who, in consequence of the refusal of the Kilma1colm School Board to provide for their education, have been left without education since April last, whether he has yet received any reply from the School Board to the communication which, according to his statement on the 14th inst., had been addressed by the Department to the School Board on the subject; and whether the Department has yet decided as to the steps to be taken to prevent this continued violation of the law as to compulsory education.
§ * MR. A. GRAHAM MURRAYThe Department cannot accept the assumption contained in the hon. Member's question that the School Board are responsible for the fact that the children referred to have been left without education since April last, when the authorities of the Orphan Homes suddenly ceased to give education to the children whom they have taken in charge. The Department are in correspondence with the School Board, and. 243 received a reply from them on the 18th July to a letter addressed to them on the 8th. A further letter on the legal aspects of the question was necessary, and this was sent on the 24th July.
§ SIR CHARLES CAMERONCan the right hon. Gentleman say when he is likely to be able to give us the replies?
§ * MR. A. GRAHAM MURRAYI can only say that the matter is going on. The Department have been fully advised as to their legal position in the matter. It is a triangular affair, and I cannot say when it will be concluded.
§ SIR CHARLES CAMERONI shall ask another question.