§ Mr. BOLANDasked the Lord Advocate whether his attention has been called to the action of the Edinburgh School Board in refusing to supply books free to any children in the Catholic schools within their district, whilst at the same time they are supplying books free only to children in schools under their management; and whether he proposes to take any, and, if so, what, action in order to secure that the provisions of the Education (Scotland) Act, 1908, are duly observed by this school board?
§ The LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. Ure)I have no information as to the action of the Edinburgh School Board in the matter referred to, but in terms of Section 3 (6) of the Education (Scotland) Act, 1908, it is entirely within the discretion of a school Board to supply school books—not to the managers of schools—but to any or all of the pupils in attendance at any or all of the State-aided (including Catholic) schools within their district.
§ Mr. H. BELLOCIf that discretion is used with a distinct religious bias, do the authorities propose to take any action?
§ Mr. UREThe Education Department have no right to interfere. It is a matter entirely in the discretion of the School Board.
§ Mr. BOLANDIs the Lord Advocate aware those words "within the district under their management" were added in order to safeguard this very difficulty under which the Catholic schools were placed; and is he not aware this very argument was used by the Secretary of State for Scotland that the Catholics were getting fair treatment, and, as a matter of course, were not entitled to press for further financial consideration?
§ Mr. UREThey do receive fair treatment and are placed in exactly the same position as the Protestant children in other schools.
§ Mr. BOLANDIs he not aware that is doing the precise thing complained of, giving books to necessitous children who happen not to be Catholics, and refusing books to necessitous children who happen to be Catholics?
§ Mr. UREI am not aware whether they are doing so or not. If they are doing so it is a matter entirely within their discretion, and they must exercise that discretion.
§ Mr. BOLANDWill the right hon. Gentleman have an inquiry instituted into this matter, which raises the whole question of the attitude of the Government towards Catholics in Scotland?
§ Mr. UREI do not think it raises the question of the attitude of the Government, but it raises the attitude of a particular School Board on a certain matter, and it does not require inquiry.
§ Mr. JAMES HOPEWill he inquire of the School Board on what ground they base their action?
§ Mr. JAMES HOPEWill he inquire on what ground they defend their action?