§ MR. CARLILEI beg to ask the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that the Church school at Barwick-in-Elmet is admittedly overcrowded, that the children from Scholes attend the Barwick-in-Elmet school and have to be conveyed from there by cart, and that the West Riding local education authority have applied for a grant from his £100,000 to build a provided school at Barwick; and whether he will require the new school to be built at Scholes.
§ MR. MCKENNAThe Barwick-in-Elmet school is not at present technically overcrowded. On the 10 square feet basis there would be a slight deficiency in the accommodation available for older children. I understand that the children 783 from Scholes are conveyed to Barwick. The local authority have applied for a grant in aid of the provision of a new council school, and their application is now before the Board. The most convenient situation for the proposed school is, of course, one of the elements to be considered.
§ MR. CARLILEWill the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that the school will be built at Scholes?
§ MR. MCKENNANo, Sir; that would be giving a decision without hearing all the parties concerned.
§ MR. MCKENNAThere is usually an allowance of a certain percentage made beyond the actual average attendance. A school might have places enough for the actual average attendance, but not enough to cover the additional percentage. That would be technical overcrowding.
§ SIR HENRY CRAIK (Glasgow and Aberdeen Universities)Does not this technical overcrowding involve the overcrowding of class-rooms on certain days when the average attendance is slightly exceeded, and does not the Board of Education consistently set its face against that?
§ MR. MCKENNAYes, Sir; and the Board would gladly see that avoided, but it is very difficult to call on local authorities to supply new buildings at great expense in order to make special provision for every day in the year.