§ MR. GOULDING (Worcester)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Education whether his attention has been called to the denial by the chairman of the Primrose League meeting recently held in the schoolroom of Castle Morton, Worcestershire, that the vicar took the chair; and also that lads were present or refreshments supplied to young persons; and whether he would ascertain the facts.
§ MR. McKENNANo, Sir; my attention has not been called to the statement referred to. Steps would, of course, be taken to ascertain the facts before the Board took any action in the matter.
§ MR. GOULDINGWill the right hon. Gentleman see the necessity of making inquiry at once in view of the grossly unfounded attacks which have been 946 made on the vicar owing to the Answer the of the right hon. Gentleman?
§ MR. McKENNANothing I have said or done has caused that. I understand the hon. Gentleman now gives the same publicity to the denial as was given to the original assertion.
§ MR. GOULDINGDoes the right hon. Gentleman admit that the facts were not as stated by the Gentleman who put the original Question?
§ MR. McKENNAIn my Answer I assumed that they were true and I stated the position in regard to the school trust.
§ MR. MOORE (Armagh, N.)Does the right hon. Gentleman now withdraw his statement?
§ MR. McKENNANo, Sir, the statement I made was strictly accrate.
§ MR. LONSDALEWill the right hon. Gentleman make further inquiry?
§ MR. McKENNANothing I have said necessitates that. It is not the duty of the Board of Education to make such inquiries.