§ SIR GEORGE BARTLEY (Islington N.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Board of Education whether he is aware that the net profits of the Girls Public Day School Company for 1904 was £9,327 or over 7 per cent, on the capital, and that of this profit £4,200 was received from Imperial taxation, out of grants from the Education Department; and whether, seeing that he stated on the 26th July, 1904, that these grants, would be discontinued after July, 1904, he is aware that the fees of the pupils in those schools average £15 a year per pupil; and whether, if these grants are to be continued to pay dividends on. educational joint stock companies, they are to be given also to all other private adventure schools for the children of well-to-do parents.
THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION (Sir WILLIAM AN.SOX, Oxford University)As regards the first part of the Question, I may remind the hon. Member that by their articles of association the Girls Public Day School Company are not allowed to pay a dividend of more than 4 per cent. All profits beyond this amount go for educational purposes. As regards the second part of the Question, I can assure the hon. Member that no grants will under any circumstances be paid after the end of the current educational year to the schools conducted by this company or any other similar body, unless they can so alter their constitution as to come within the present requirements of the Board.
§ SIR GEORGE BARTLEYIs it not the fact that although they only paid 4per cent dividend the company earned 7 per cent.?
§ SIR WILLIAM ANSONThat may be so; but, if so, the rest went to educational purposes.