§ MR. CLOUGHI beg to ask the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that the accommodation of school places in the Wesleyan, Abbey Church, and St. Mary's Roman Catholic Schools, Selby, are 582, 1,023, and 234 respectively, or a total of 1,839, and that the average attendance during 1907 was 439, 673, and 200 respectively, or a total of 1,312; whether this excess of 527 school places is the outcome of denominational proselytising zeal or caused by decaying industries; whether the local education authority is in any way responsible for this excess of accommodation; and whether the Board can suggest any means by which this unnecessary accommodation may be dispensed with, in view of the extra burden thus thrown upon the ratepayers.
§ MR. RUNCIMANThe Answer to the first paragraph is in the affirmative. I have no information as to the second. The local education authority is not in any way responsible for this excess of accommodation. The obligation of the local education authority to maintain existing schools which are not necessary for the school supply of the district can only be removed by legislation.
§ MR. CLOUGHI beg to ask the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that the buildings provided for the Wesleyan, Abbey Church, and St. Mary's Roman Catholic Schools, 1254 Selby, are of an unsatisfactory character; and whether he will instruct one of His Majesty's Inspectors of schools to report fully on these premises.
§ MR. RUNCIMANThere has been some criticism of the premises of the Wesleyan School, but I am not aware of any objections to the buildings of the two other schools referred to. His Majesty's Inspector will be asked to report on the premises when next he visits the school.
§ MR. CLOUGHDo I understand that the Inspector will confine his attention to the Wesleyan School?
§ MR. RUNCIMANNo, Sir. So far as his ordinary duties are concerned he will, of course, inspect the other schools as well. But objections have only been received in respect of the Wesleyan School.