§ MR. LANE-FOXI beg to ask the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that the total accommodation in elementary schools in the West Riding was 257,380 for the year 1906–7, and that the average attendance for the same period was 174,062, showing an excess of accommodation over attendance of 83,318 places; whether there are a number of new council schools sanctioned 1409 and now building which will shortly add largely to this excessive accommodation; and whether, in sanctioning the building of new schools in the West Riding in future, he will bear this excess in mind, in view of the burden thrown upon the ratepayers.
§ MR. McKENNAYes, Sir; I am aware of the facts stated and also of the fact that it is proposed to provide several new schools. It is not, however, the practice of the Board in deciding as to the necessity of a proposed school in a particular village to take into consideration the number of vacant places in other portions of an area some 2,500 square miles in extent.
§ *MR. CLOUGH (Yorkshire, W. R., Skipton)Is it not the fact that there is an excess of school places in the old agricultural areas and a dearth of school places in the new industrial communities.
§ MR. McKENNAYes, I conceive that to be the explanation.
§ MR. LANE-FOXWill not the result of the present building scheme be to raise the excess of school places to something like 120,000?
§ MR. McKENNAYes, but I have endeavoured to explain that while there may be an excess in some places there is a deficiency in others which it is necessary to supply.
§ MR. BRIDGEMAN (Shropshire, Oswestry)Is there so large an excess in any other county in England?
§ MR. McKENNAasked for notice.