HC Deb 05 November 1902 vol 114 cc149-50
MR. HERBERT ROBERTS (Denbighshire, W.)

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he will state whether the schools originally built as denominational schools, but which have been transferred to and are at present managed by School Boards, will become, at the expiration of the lease regulating their transfer, new public elementary schools provided by other persons, and will be subject to the provisions of Clause 9 of the Education Bill.

THE PRIME MINISTER AND FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR, Manchester, E.)

I have answered this Question already very fully on October 27. If the hon. Gentleman wishes me to repeat the answer I will do so, but I hope this may be the find edition. What I said was that "At the end of such a lease as that contemplated by the hon. Gentleman in his Question the buildings would revert absolutely to the lessors—that is to say, the trustees or the managers of the voluntary school. But if it is desired to use these buildings as a denominational school, this would be a new school and would come under the provision of Clauses 9 and 10 of the Bill."

MR. SOARES (Devonshire, staple)

May I ask whether, having regard to the fact that the effect will be to turn a considerable number of board schools into voluntary schools, the right hon. Gentleman will give an opportunity of discussing this question before the Committee stage of the Education Bill is over.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

As I do not agree with the hon. Gentleman's premises I need hardly say I do not follow him in his conclusions.

MR. HERBEIIT ROBERTS

The point really is whether the trustees, when the buildings revert to them, will have to make a delegation at the time the school is reconstituted as a public elementary school.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I cannot say what will be done under the trust deeds unless I see them. There is an immense variety of them, and I cannot answer a question of that sort.

SIR CHARLES DILKE (Gloucester-shire, Forest of Dean)

Will the right hon. Gentleman take steps to prevent a hiatus in point of time between the expiry of the present powers and the commencement of the new powers?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I should be delighted to prevent any hiatus, but I do not know that the present Bill will cause one. There might be a hiatus possible under the existing system, and there might be one under the new system, but the new system will do nothing to increase any hiatus.