§ DR. MACNAMARA (Camberwell, N.)To ask the Secretary to the Board of Education whether his attention has been called to the fact that the County Council of the West Riding of Yorkshire have resolved that a deduction shall be made from the salary of any teacher in a non-provided school in respect of the time given to denominational religious teaching; whether, seeing that such teacher is bound by the Act of 1902 satisfactorily to give sach religious teaching, he can suggest any means of relieving teachers in non-provided schools in the West Riding County Council area from the position in which they now find themselves placed.
(Answered by Sir William Anson.) The Board are aware that the County Council of the West Riding have passed a resolution to the effect described in the Question, and also that the council is now conducting an inquiry into the amount of time given in each school to religious teaching of a denominational character. I am not aware that any teacher's salary has yet been diminished, or that any action has as yet been taken by the county council. The teachers do not, therefore as yet appear to be in a position which demands the consideration of the Board.