§ MR. THOMAS DEWAR (Tower Hamlets, St. George's)I beg to ask the Vice-President of the Committee of Council on Education whether he is aware that the London School Board have scheduled, for the purpose of erecting additional board schools, three sites in Barnsley Street, St. George's-in-the-East, and Arbour Square and Bromley Street, Stepney, comprising some of the best class of property in one of the most congested districts in London; and whether, seeing that the conversion of these sites into board schools will unhouse upwards of 300 people for whom no provision for rehousing has been made, he will commend to the consideration of the London School Board the necessity of finding other sites than those scheduled, which will not accentuate to so great an extent the housing problem in East London.
§ SIR J. GORSTThe Inspector of the Board of Education is about to inquire into this question of sites.
Major GORDON (Tower Hamlets, Stepney)I beg to ask the Vice-President of the Committee of Council on Education whether he can give the approximate number of school places at present required in St. George's, East, and Stepney Divisions of Tower Hamlets; whether he has information showing that the demand for such places is sufficient to justify the proposed destruction of house property in these neighbourhoods; whether he is aware that vacant sites and slum areas are available in the immediate vicinity; and whether the 1568 School Board can be compelled to utilise them.
§ SIR. GORSTI have already said that this matter is being inquired into.