§ MR. J. WARDI beg to ask the President of the Board of Education if he can state how many public elementary schools situated in the basements of places of religious worship and other 550 buildings, and actually below the level. of the contiguous streets, are now on the grant lists of the Board; and, if not, will he, through the inspectors of the Board, ascertain the number and names of such schools, with the names of the local education authorities in whose! areas such schools are situated.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION (Mr. BIRRELL, Bristol, N.)Though I have no knowledge of the number of schools situated as described in the Question, that number undoubtedly has steadily diminished; local education authorities during the last few years have greatly assisted the Board of Education in exercising continuous pressure in this direction. I am having the point specially investigated with a view to bringing to an end as soon as possible the use of all unsuitable schools of this kind.