HC Deb 11 June 1907 vol 175 cc1237-8
MR. BRIDGEMAN

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Education on what dates the plans for a new Church of England school at Salterhebble were finally sanctioned by the Board of Education and the local education authority; and on what date the Board of Education decided to discontinue the grant.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION (Mr. MCKENNA, Monmouthshire, N.)

The plans were approved by the Board on the 26th March, 1906. I am not able to say on what date they were sanctioned by the local authority. The Board informed the local authority on the 1st May, 1907, that they would not interfere with their decision to discontinue maintenance.

MR. BRIDGEMAN

Did not the date sanctioned by the local authority form part of the subject which the right hon. Gentleman said he had carefully considered in deciding the case?

MR. MCKENNA

I must ask for notice of that. I have no recollection of having said it.

MR. BRIDGEMAN

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Education if he has been informed that a competent firm of architects, on 4th June, stated, with reference to the Salterhebble Church school, that they had had the building under observation for some considerable time, and had no hesitation in stating that there was no foundation for the suggestion that it is in either an insanitary or an unsafe condition, and that it would have been waste of time to spend money on the repairs, in view of the intended rebuilding scheme; and if it is customary for the Board of Education to take extreme measures as to repairs when money is ready and plans approved for complete rebuilding.

MR. MCKENNA

The Answer to the first paragraph is in the negative; to the second that the Board's action must depend on the circumstances of each particular case.

MR. BRIDGEMAN

Will the right hon. Gentleman do me the favour to consider this Report if I send him a copy of it?

MR. MCKENNA

No, Sir. I have already considered a Report from my own architect, whom I regard as fully competent to decide this question. My views are therefore not open in the matter.

LORD R. CECIL (Marylebone, E.)

Why in this case did the right hon. Gentleman decide not to interfere with the decision of the local authority?

MR. MCKENNA

Because the school was declared by the architect to be dangerous and unhealthy.

LORD R. CECIL

Will the right hon. Gentleman lay on the Table of the House the Report on which he based his decision?

MR. MCKENNA

No, Sir.

LORD BALCARRES

Is it not the case that the building, having been condemned, was to be replaced by a modern structure, the plans of which were passed by the local education authority, and the money for which was paid into the bank?

MR. MCKENNA

The plans were approved by the Board on the 26th March, 1906.