§ SIR GEORGE BARTLEYI beg to ask the Secretary to the Board of Education whether he is aware that, from the report of the Girls' Public Day School Company, Limited, a sum of £2,826 was paid to that company last year by the Board of Education towards the £5,131 paid by that company to its shareholders as a dividend; whether he is aware that the fees paid by each pupil in these schools exceeded £15 a year; and whether such grants from taxation in aid of private enterprise are to be continued; and, if so, whether these grants are to be extended to all other private venture schools providing education to the middle and richer classes of the community.
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION (Sir WILLIAM ANSON,) Oxford UniversityAs I announced in the House last year the clause in the Directory, under which the institution referred to and other similar institutions are eligible for grants, will be withdrawn after 31st July next. If the company should propose such an alteration in their arrangements as would bring them into conformity with the regulations of the Board as thus modified, the Board will be prepared to consider whether any temporary continuance of existing grants would be justifiable in order to allow time for the completion of these alterations.
§ SIR GEORGE BARTLEYWill similar arrangements be made with other companies having private venture schools?
§ SIR WILLIAM ANSONThe same clause covers them all.