HC Deb 07 July 1904 vol 137 cc950-1
MR. SLACK (Hertfordshire, St. Albans)

To ask the Secretary to the Board of Education whether by letter dated 12th March, 1903, the Board of Education requested the Charity Commissioners to divert an endowment properly payable to the Kent education authority for the payment of teachers' salaries at Whitstable, in that county, and appropriate it to the payment of debts incurred or about to be incurred by the trustees of the Whitstable and Seasalter National School; and, if so, whether the Board of Education will inform the Charity Commissioners that they now desire that the endowment shall be paid to the local education authority, as directed by Section 13 of the Education Act, 1902, and that if the managers of that school wish to enlarge the school-house such enlargement shall be carried out by means of funds provided by the managers, as directed by Section 7 of the same Act.

(Answered by Sir William Anson.) On the 12th March, 1903, the Board requested the Charity Commissioners to take up the conduct of the case, which was one of a "mixed charity," and therefore subject to the jurisdiction of the Commissioners. The Board at the same time expressed the opinion that it was desirable that the trustees' proposal with respect to the improvement of the school buildings, and the arrangement for the repayment of any loan which might be raised for the purpose, should be laid before the local education authority. This having been duly done by the trustees, and the scheme having been communicated by the Commissioners to the urban district council, with the result that no objection was raised during the period of publication, which expired on the 27th May last, and expenditure having now proceeded on the faith of the sanction of the Commissioners, the Board do not consider that they can intervene in the manner suggested. No difference between the local education authority and the trustees with reference to the application of the income of the endowment has been referred to the Board under the provisions of Section 13 (1) of The Education Act, 1902.