§ MR. LANE FOXI beg to ask the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that the West Riding education authority has decided to build a new council school in place of the existing Church school at East Hardwick, on the ground that the requirements of the Board of Education have not been carried out; that plans obtained by the managers, embodying the required improvements, have been in the possession of the local education authority since 1905; and that the delay in carrying them out has been due to the refusal of the local education authority to express any opinion upon these plans; and whether, under the circumstances, the Board will favourably reconsider the unanimous appeal of the adult inhabitants of East Hardwick against the provision of such new school.
§ MR. MCKENNAYes, Sir, the managers submitted plans for the improvement of the school, which the local education authority refused to approve. The plans were submitted to the Board of Education, and I was advised that, even if they were carried out, the premises would still be unsatisfactory. I therefore decided that the school which the local authority proposed to provide was necessary and that the recognition of the existing voluntary school shall be terminated as soon as the new council school is opened.
§ MR. LANE-FOXIs it not the fact that the plans have been deliberately withheld? In view of the fact that this is an extremely small village, will the right hon. Gentleman reconsider his decision?
§ MR. MCKENNAThe plans have, as a matter of fact, been submitted to the 78 Board, which has decided that even if the buildings were executed they would remain unsatisfactory, and I have no option, therefore, but to recognise that the new schools are necessary.