* SIR SEYMOUR KINGI beg to ask the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that the Hull Education Committee offered free scholarships by an entrance examination for boys and girls who wished to enter upon an engagement as pupil teachers in any public elementary school in the city in the years 1905, 1906, and 1907, tenable for two years at a secondary school to the successful candidates at such examination, and subsequently voted bursaries to successful candidates of the value of ten pounds each for the like period, such bursaries to be paid to the parents
† See col. 28.986 or guardians towards their maintenance; that twelve Roman Catholic girls, children of ratepayers, who were successful candidates and intending to become pupil teachers in Roman Catholic schools, desired to receive their education as stated in their application at the recognised Roman Catholic pupil teachers' centre (an institution which has been erected and equipped by the Roman Catholic body out of their own funds at a cost of £8,000), and were deprived of their bursaries by the action of the Non-comformist majority of the Hull City Council on the ground that they must attend a council secondary school; and will he say whether the Hull Roman Catholic secondary school is recognised by the Board of Education as a secondary school without any limitation; whether the Board of Education has only temporarily recognised the council schools as secondary schools, and affixed as a condition of such recognition that they be brought up to standard by next year; and what steps he proposes to take to ensure that due consideration shall be given to denominations who are doing the work of secondary education so as to comply with the Education Act, 1902.
MR. BIRKELLI have no official information as to the particulars mentioned by the hon. Member in the first part of his Question. The Hull Roman Catholic secondary school has been recognised by the Board for the school year 1905–1906. In regard to the continued recognition of three council schools in Hull as secondary schools, the Board have communicated certain conditions as to necessary improvements in the teaching staff and other matters, on the fulfilment of which that recognition must depend. The concluding paragraph raises a somewhat difficult point as to the limitations upon local authorities' powers in regard to the point at issue, under existing legislation.
* SIR SEYMOUR KINGDoes the right hon. Gentleman approve of Roman Catholics being deprived altogether of education in the secondary schools.
§ MR. BIRRELLCertainly not, Sir.