HC Deb 16 June 1902 vol 109 cc702-3
MR. ERNEST GRAY (West Ham, N.)

I beg to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education whether he is aware that certain School Boards conducting centre classes for the benefit of pupil teachers in Board and Voluntary schools are now under the apprenhension that they may be surcharged any sums spent upon such centres; whether the Inspector of the Board of Education has power to withhold the Government Grant if the pupil teachers be not satisfactorily instructed; and, seeing that by the agreement with the securities of pupil teachers the School Board is bound to make a satisfactory provision for their education and training, whether he can give an assurance that, pending the constitution of new authorities endowed with sufficient power to carry out this work, the pupil teacher centres may be continued without risk of the members of School Boards being involved in personal financial liability.

THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL ON EDUCATION (Sir J. GORST,) Cambridge University

I stated in reply to a similar question on June 5th, that under the Education Act, 1901, pupil teacher centres, if now sanctioned by the local authority, can be carried on at the expense of the school fund until July 31st, 1902, and thenceforward, until the appointed day by Clause 20 (2) of the Bill now before Parliament should it become law. The Board of Education can withhold the pupil teacher grant from any managers who do not afford proper instruction to their pupil teachers.

MR. ERNEST GRAY

Then may the School Board make application to the County Council for authority?

SIR J. GORST

That is entirely a matter for the School Board itself.