§ Mr. BOLANDasked the Lord Advocate whether he is now in a position to state under what provision of the Education (Scotland) Act, 1908, the Edinburgh School Board has refused to grant free books to the children in Catholic schools within their district of parents in necessitous circumstances?
§ Mr. UREI am informed by the Edinburgh School Board that, in declining applications from seven parents of children attending Catholic schools, who stated that they were in necessitous circumstances, the board were acting under section 3 of the Education (Scotland) Act, 1908.
§ Mr. BOLANDIs the hon. Gentleman aware that during the passage of the Bill through Grand Committee the Government specially extended the area in that district in order to exactly cover these cases?
§ Mr. UREI am not aware of that. The power which is given to the school board leaves the matter entirely within their discretion.
§ Mr. J. MacVEAGHCan the hon. Gentleman say whether it was a fact that it was the intention of the Scottish Grand Committee that the children of all religious denominations should be treated alike?
§ Mr. UREYes, Sir; and the school board, as I understood it, treat them all alike and consider each case on its own merits. They give a grant wherever they find the necessity arises.
§ Mr. BOLANDMay I ask whether in this particular case any applications were made and refused on the ground that the parents were not in necessitous circumstances, or on what grounds?
§ Mr. UREYes, Sir; I understand the Edinburgh School Board refused them on the ground that the parents, in their judgment, were not in necessitous circumstances.
§ Sir E. CARSONMay I inquire whether a distinction was made by reason of religion, as in the case of the Swansea school?