§ MR. FENWICK (Northumberland, Wansbeck)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Education whether his attention has been drawn to the accident which happened at a school rifle corps drill in Hartlepool, and by reason of which a teacher was shot through the knee; and whether he will take steps to prevent the use of loaded rifles on school premises in future.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION (Mr. MCKENNA, Monmouthshire, N.)My attention has not been called to the incident referred to. Without doubt it took place out of school hours, and in that case it is not a matter in which the Board of Education have power to intervene.
§ MR. FENWICKBut did it not take place on school premises?
§ MR. McKENNAI will inquire as to that.
§ *MR. BYLES (Salford, N.)Could not the Government prohibit the use of ammunition by children?
§ MR. REES (Montgomery Boroughs)Does not this deplorable occurrence rather show the absolute necessity of teaching people how to handle a rifle?
§ MR. LEAIs not this the second accident of the kind lately? Did not the son of the hon. Member for North Camber-well nearly lose his life through a similar accident arising from this tomfoolery?
§ MR. McKENNAwas understood to say he had no information on that point.
§ MR. CROOKS (Woolwich)Is it not fortunate that the shooting was bad? He might have been shot through the head otherwise.