HC Deb 08 December 1902 vol 116 cc208-9
Mr. HARWOOD () Bolton

To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the fact that in consequence of Section 3 of The Voluntary Schools Act, 1897, it will follow that under the new Education Bill public elementary schools founded by the new local education authority will be rated for local purposes, whilst those not so provided will be exempt from such rating; and whether he will take steps to remove the inequality which will thus be caused between one township and another in the same union, as the township with non-provided schools will escape that portion of their assessment to the common fund.

(Answered by Mr. Walter Long.) Under Section 3 of The Voluntary Schools Act, 1897, no person can be assessed or rateded to any local rate in respect of lands or buildings used exclusively or mainly as schoolrooms, offices, or playground of a voluntary school, except to the extent of profits derived from any letting. This exemption does not apply in the case of a school provided by a School Board, and it will not apply to a school provided by a local education authority under the Education Bill. That Bill does not alter the law on the subject. It could only be dealt with by an Act of Parliament, and I could not give any promise to introduce legislation with regard to it.