§ SIR BARRINGTON SIMEON (Southampton)I beg to ask the Vice-President of the Committee of Council on Education whether his attention has been ca led to the report of Her Majesty's Inspector of Schools respecting the state of education of the children attending the National School in Essendon, Hertfordshire; whether he is aware that two of the three trustees of the school are non-resident, and never attend the school meetings, while the third trustee is the Rector of Essendon, and that the elected managers very inadequately represent the subscribers to the school funds, and have refused to appoint a master, notwithstanding the warning given by the Inspector that the Government Grant will be withheld unless there should be an 337 improvement in the work and discipline of the school; and whether, under these circumstances, the Committee of Council on Education will recommend the appointment of additional resident trustees, with whom the management rests under the trust deeds establishing the school.
§ SIR. J. GORSTThe answer to the first paragraph is in the affirmative. I have been informed that two of the trustees are usually absent from the meetings, but there are four managers who have equal control with the trustees. Her Majesty's Inspector reported that the school narrowly escaped being called inefficient. A new head mistress, trained, and first-class in the certificate examination, has lately been appointed. The Education Department has no authority to interfere in the appointment of trustees.