§ MR. EMMOTT (Oldham)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Board of Education whether his attention has been called to the case of the Shaw British School, a school containing over 500 scholars in average attendance, which has always been carried on without sectarian teaching or test, and is the only unsectarian school in a district containing six schools; whether he is aware that the Lancashire Education Committee were on the point of purchasing the school for a 600 council school when, without notice to the education committee, the building was privately purchased by an anonymous person, who intends to make it a Church of England school; and whether, in such a case, any of the inhabitants of the district besides the purchaser have any voice in the character of the religious education to be given in the school in future.
§ * SIR WILLIAM ANSONI understand that the school, though it has been called British, is privately owned, and has never been associated by trust with the British Society. I further gather that up to the present time no deed has been executed making the school a Church of England school, and that the religious instruction continues to be under the control of exactly the same body of managers as before, except that the Vicar has been co-opted in place of one of the former managers, who retired. The character of the religious instruction remains in the hands of the managers.
§ MR. EMMOTTCannot the hon. Gentleman answer the latter part of my Question?
§ * SIR WILLIAM ANSONIf the hon. Member refers to Sections 8 and 9 of the Education Act and the notices there mentioned, I understand such notice is not required where a change of this character is made in the case of a voluntary school.