§ MR. D. A. THOMAS (Merthyr Tydfil)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Board of Education whether the Board of Education has paid to the Education Committee of the County Council of Glamorgan the grants earned by the evening continuation schools in the Aberdare urban district for the winter session of 1903–4; and, if so, the date on which the payment was made; and why payment is being withheld from the teachers in the locality.
§ SIR WILLIAM ANSONThe Board of Education have recently paid to the Education Committee of the Glamorganshire County Council the grants due for twelve out of the thirteen evening schools held in the Aberdare Urban District in the school year 1903–4. The greater number of the claims for these schools were not received by the Board till February of the present year. The claim for grant for the remaining school was sent back to the local education authority for further information in January, 962 and has not yet been returned to the Board. The Board of Education have no information as to the alleged withholding of payment from the teachers.
§ MR. D. A. THOMASWhen was the grant paid?
§ SIR WILLIAM ANSONI think on the 4th of this month, but I cannot say definitely.
§ MR. D. A. THOMASI beg to ask the Secretary to the Board of Education if he can state in which of the autonomous districts in Glamorganshire evening continuation schools were not opened during the past winter; and why they were not opened.
§ SIR WILLIAM ANSONEvening schools have been opened in all the autonomous areas in Glamorganshire during the session of 1904–5, though apparently in the areas of Aberdare, Pontypridd, and Rhondda certain evening schools previously carried on by the late school boards and their successors have been discontinued. The Board understand that the difficulties which have arisen locally in these cases are likely to be overcome before the next evening school session begins.