§ MR. YOXALL (Nottingham, W.)To ask the Secretary to the Board of Education if he can see his way to arrange for payment of the annual grants due to Oldbury Langley Holy Trinity School (No. 4505) and to Oldbury Langley Good Shepherd School (No. 4262), both situate in the urban district of Oldbury, for the month of March, 1903, seeing that these schools were opened on the 16th of that month in place of other schools to which grants were paid to 28th February only, although they were not closed until 12th March, and seeing also that the Board of Education has recognised its liability by paying the fee grants for March, 1903, and by sending its forms for the signature of three managers of each school, authorising the first of the three signing in each case 1520 to receive payment of the annual grant for the month concerned.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The facts as stated in the Question do not fully represent the position. It is true that the fee grant was paid from 16th March, but it must be remembered that the fee grant and annual grant are not paid under the same conditions, the fee grant being a special grant in place of loss of fees. I have been fully into the case, but I am afraid I cannot see my way to make any further grant to these schools, especially in view of their somewhat unsatisfactory condition when first opened.