§ MR. M'KENNA (Monmouthshire, N.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Board of Education whether at the time when the Board suggested that the children in the intermediate department of the High Pavement School, Nottingham, should be sent to All Saints' National School, his attention had been called to the fact that the High Pavement School is more than a mile from All Saints' School, that the bulk of the children proposed to be transferred live on the side of the High Pavement School away from All Saints' School, that the space between the schools is open land, unoccupied and unprotected, and that, owing to the assaults that have taken place on this land, children have been forbidden to. play there. And, whether, in view of the danger the children living on the far side of this unoccupied land may run. in, going to and from All Saints' School, he will reconsider his refusal to allow the School Board to continue, for the purposes of the intermediate school, the temporary use of the rooms which have been so used since August 1892.
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION (Sir WILLIAM ANSON, Oxford University)From reports in their possession the Board of Education understand that the distance between the High Pavement School and the All Saints' School is not more than half-a-mile, and they have no reason to think that the space between them, though open, is dangerous. As I said on Tuesday,* the All Saints' School was not the only school suggested, though it was especially mentioned by name, as it was known to have a large number of
*See page 266585 vacant places. The Carrington Road Board School is also only half-a-mile distant, and the Scotholme Board School is sufficiently near for the children of that school to use the laundry of the High Pavement School. There are, I believe, vacant places in both these schools. The Board of Education, as at present advised, see no reason to alter their decision with regard to the laundry and gymnasium of the High Pavement School, the use of which does not affect that school only. But they will, of course, he prepared to consider carefully any representations which may be made to them on the subject. I may point out that the date at the end of the Question should be August 1902, not August 1892.
§ MR. M'KENNAWill the hon. Gentleman further inquire as to the distance and nature of the ground between the two schools?
§ SIR WILLIAM ANSONYes, but I may say I have here information which does not correspond with the description given by the hon. Member.