§ Mr. BILLSON (Halifax) (in the absence of Sir J. Brunner, Cheshire, Northwich)I beg to ask the Vice-President of the Committee of Council on Education whether his attention has been called to the adoption by the Liverpool School Board of a Catechism for use in their schools; whether he is aware that several members of the Board objected to the adoption of the Catechism, on the ground that it was denominational; and whether the Board are acting in accordance with section 14 (b) of the Elementary Education Act, 1870?
§ SIR J. GORSTA copy of the Liverpool School Board Catechism has been unofficially supplied to me, and I am informed that it is not yet in use. No complaint from any member of the Liverpool School Board has been made to the Education Department. If any complaint was made by any person interested or aggrieved it would be the duty of the Committee of Council to determine judicially whether the use of the Catechism was unlawful under section 964 14 (2) of the Education Act, 1870. Under these circumstances, it appears to be undesirable to prejudge the matter by replying to the third paragraph of the Question.