§ MR. SLACK (Hertfordshire, St. Albans)To ask the Secretary to the Board of Education whether he is aware that the Hertfordshire County Council propose to add to the Watford Grammar School, which is a denominational foundation, 864 a building for the girls department at a cost of £15,000 to the rates; and whether, seeing that the income of the existing school not being sufficient to maintain it without a county council grant, the whole cost of maintenance of the girls' department, as well as the building, will be defrayed out of public money, the Board of Education have taken any steps to ascertain the wishes of the inhabitants of Watford; and whether the Board have sanctioned the proposal of the county council.
(Answered by Sir William Anson.) I have received deputations from the Watford and District Free Church Council and from a public meeting which was convened in Watford, and the Board are now in communication with the governors and the local education authority on the subject. The matter is still under consideration.