§ MR. SCHWANNI beg to ask the Secretary to the Board of Education whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Mr. J. Wilshaw, of Urmston, Lancashire, who sent his child to the Church of England School in that town, but on asking the managers for tree education was refused; whether he is aware that, on Mr. Wilshaw appealing to the Board of Education to secure free education for his child, under the Act of 1891, he was informed that he could have a free place for his child at the Roman Catholic School in Urmston; that Mr. Wilshaw applied for the admittance of his child to the nearest Church of England School, and was refused because no fee was offered; and that Mr. Wilshaw then brought the matter before the Bishop of Manchester, and received an answer stating that Mr. Wilshaw, he was informed, did not need any help, and endorsing the action of the managers of the Church school; and, if so, will he state what action does the Board propose to take in the matter.
§ SIR WILLIAM ANSONThe Urmston National School has a right to charge fees under Section 2 (2) of the Act of 1891; and the Board are not aware of anything in that Act which, while giving a parent the right to claim a free place for his child within a reasonable distance of his home, gives any right to claim such a free place at any particular school. It will be competent for the Lancashire County Council after the appointed day to consider the matter, if they so desire it. But I do not consider any action on the part of the Board to be necessary or desirable.