§ MR. MANSFIELD (Lincolnshire, Spalding)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Board of Education whether he is aware that the Lindsey (Lincolnshire) Education Committee has refused to sanction the estimates for the year ending 31st March, 1904, submitted to them by several Council schools, and that in some cases the Education Committee has reduced 1215 the estimates by one-half, and also refused to allow the School Committtee to continue to employ the services of a paid clerk; and that, in consequence of the action of the Education Committee, some of the School Committees have threatened to resign in a body, because they state that it is impossible to carry on the schools under these altered conditions imposed by the Education Committee; and, if so, will he state what steps he proposes to take in the matter.
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION (Sir WILLIAM ANSON,) Oxford UniversityA local education authority is bound to maintain and to keep efficient the public elementary schools within its area. The Board of Education have as yet no evidence that the Lindsey County Council has failed in this duty.
§ MR. MANSFIELDWill the hon. Baronet give the Return asked for?
§ SIR WILLIAM ANSONI have communicated privately to the hon. Gentleman that we cannot undertake to grant the Return asked for.