§ DR. MACNAMARA (Camberwell, N.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Board of Education whether his Department has taken objection to the regulation of: 20th April by the Radnorshire Education Committee providing for the fixing of religious instruction at the end of each morning school session in the non-provided schools of the county, and similar regulations adopted by the Education Committees for Breconshire and Glamorganshire respectively; and whether,, having regard to the terms of Section 7,. sub-section (2), of the Education Act of 1870, and of Section 7, Sub-section (1) (a), of the Education Act of 1902, he will issue a general circular to local education authorities stating what their powers are in respect of the fixing of the hours of religious instruction in the non-provided schools within their respective areas.
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION (Sir WILLIAM ANSON,) Oxford UniversityThe matter referred to in the first part of the hon. Member's Question has been the subject of communications from managers of individual schools; these are under consideration, and, as they may come before the Board under Section 7 (3) for judicial decision, it would not be desirable that I should make any statement on the subject at present. If only for this reason, the Board do not propose to issue any such circular as is suggested in the second part of the Question.
§ DR. MACNAMARAWill the hon. Baronet lay the Papers when the correspondence is complete.
§ SIR WILLIAM ANSONWe must await its completion before we can decide whether we shall be justified in laying it.