§ Mr. JOHN ROBERTSONasked the President of the Board of Education whether his attention had been drawn to the case of a schoolmistress at Gibbons-road council school, Willesden, who was summoned at Willesden Police-court on the 17th instant for severely caning a boy, eight years of age; whether he was aware that the boy was placed in a class-room by himself, and without supervision, because his parents objected to him receiving religious instruction; whether the offence for which corporal punishment was inflicted was directly or indirectly due to such isolation; and, if so, whether he would take steps to prevent such treatment of children whose parents approve of moral instruction and object to religious instruction being given?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of EDUCATION (Mr. Runciman)I have no information about the case referred to. If my hon. Friend will supply me with details I will gladly have inquiries made, as if the facts are of the character suggested I think those responsible for them should be severely dealt with.