§ DR. FARQUHARSON (Aberdeenshire, W.)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board if he will state how many barrack schools have been closed since the issue of the Departmental Committee's Report in April, 1896, and what is the total sum which has been expended or sanctioned for the extension of the buildings of those schools already existent; and what additions have since been made to each school.
§ MR. CHAPLINSince the date mentioned the Local Government Board have 1300 issued orders for the dissolution of two of the metropolitan school districts— namely, the Forest Gate and the South Metropolitan districts. The four schools belonging to these districts have not yet been closed, but they will be as soon as the arrangements which are being made for the accommodation of the children have been completed. The total expenditure that has been sanctioned by the Board since April, 1896, for the purposes referred to in the question is approximately £42,000, but no additions have been sanctioned by the Board to any of the existing large schools to increase the number of children to be accommodated in them. The expenditure, which extends over four years, covers the seventeen schools, in which accommodation is provided for over 10,000 children, and has been made solely for the purpose of necessary improvements in existing accommodation.