§ LORD BALCARRES (Lancashire, Chorley)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that the Swansea local education authority have passed a resolution deciding, in breach of their legal duties and in defiance of the decision of the right hon. Gentleman, to cease to maintain some Swansea voluntary schools; and will he say whether they have given formal notice 889 to that effect to the managers and the Board of Education.
§ MR. BIRRELLThe resolution of the 19th instant of the Swansea local education authority merely expressed their intention to adopt a certain course at a future date. From a communication that the Board of Education have now received it is understood that that intention will not be carried out and that the notified cessation of maintenance will not, in fact, occur.
§ LORD R. CECILIs it not the fact that at the conference at Cardiff a resolution condemning the action of the Department was put without protest by the President of the Board of Trade, who presided?
§ MR. BIRRELLIf the noble Lord has ever attempted to act as peacemaker he will know the difficulty and will be aware that it is best to say nothing in the course of the operation.