§ MR. ROGERS (Wiltshire, Devizes)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Education if he will state the number of local education authorities which have adopted By-law 3 in the model form of by-laws issued in the Elementary School Code, which by-law, if adopted, removes from the parent any obligation to cause his child to attend school except during the time allotted in the time-table exclusively to secular instruction.
§ MR BIRRELLNinety-four local education authorities have adopted the by-law, under which a parent is enabled to withdraw his child from the school promises during the period of instruction in religious subjects. These ninety-four local authorities consist of thirty-seven counties, eight county boroughs, thirty-six boroughs, and thirteen urban districts.
§ MR. ASHLEYasked if permission to withdraw was conditional in any way.
§ MR. BIRRELLI believe it to be unconditional.