HC Deb 04 July 1906 vol 160 cc36-7
MR. MACVEAGH (Down, S.)

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Education whether his attention has been called to the proceedings at the inquiry into the proposal to build a Catholic school at Dipton, Durham; whether he is aware that the clerk to the Durham County Council wrote a letter stating that the existing Catholic school would only be recognised for 365 scholars, although the secretary of the Durham education authority wrote that there were 507 places; whether the local education authority now seeks to compel the Catholic children to accept board school teaching; and whether he can state if the Durham County Council brought down a member of the Parliamentary bar to oppose the granting of educational facilities to Catholics in a new school which they are willing to build at their own cost; and, if so, what fee he received, and by whom will it have to be paid.

MR. LOUGH

I have not yet received the Report of the Commissioner appointed to hold the inquiry, which, indeed, only took place a few days ago. Until that Report has been received and carefully considered I must decline to answer any of the Questions put to me by the hon. Member on the subject matter of the inquiry.

MR. DILLON (Mayo, E.)

Has the attention of the hon. Gentleman been directed to a speech by the chairman of this body in which he said he would not rest satisfied as long as there was one denominational school in the district.

MR. LOUGH

No, Sir.

MR. DILLON

I will send the hon. Gentleman a report of the speech.