§ MR. BRYCE (Aberdeen, S.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Board of Education whether he is aware that the British elementary school at Shaw, in Lancashire, has (as was stated by the managers in their application for a final order, dated November 7th, 1903) been heretofore carried on as a non-sectarian school, the religious instruction in which has been undenominational, and not, superintended by any clergyman; and that the vicar and other present managers of the school have recently publicly announced that the Catechism and Collects of the Church of England will be henceforth taught in the school; and whether, having regard to the character the school has hitherto borne, and to the fact that it is the only undenominational school out of the six schools in the district, the Board of Education propose to take any such action as is open to them to prevent the religious instruction given in the school from being denominational.
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION (Sir WILLIAM ANSON, Oxford University)The Shaw British School has been a voluntary school in private ownership, and has, it is believed, been recently acquired by purchase from its previous owners. The character of the religious instruction given in a voluntary school is under the control of the managers, and no new order for foundation managers is applied for in this case. I understand that it is contended that the transfer of a voluntary school under these conditions constitutes the provision of a new school within the meaning of Sections 8 and 9 of the Education Act, 1902, and I am proposing to receive a deputation on the subject.