§ Lord ROBERT CECILasked the President of the Board of Education, whether the Brymbo council school is at present being carried on in four separate premises, two of which are chapels and one a working men's institute; whether some of the buildings are three-quarters of a mile apart; for how long this state of things has continued; and what steps are the local education authority taking to put an end to it?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of EDUCATION (Mr. Trevelyan)The facts are, I believe, substantially as stated by the Noble Lord, and the present state of things has continued since the beginning of 1908. The local education authority have obtained the Board's approval of a site for a new council school, and are understood to be ready to proceed with its erection as soon as the question of numbers has been definitely settled. The delay has been occasioned owing to the uncertainty as to the numbers for which the managers of the Church school will be able and willing to make permanent provision.
§ Lord ROBERT CECILasked the President of the Board of Education, whether he is aware that, in May 1908, an inquiry was held with respect to the Brymbo Church of England school; whether that inquiry included the question whether the premises of that school could be used for the purposes of denominational education; what was the nature of the report of the inspector on that question; and what decision the Education Department have come to upon it?
§ Mr. TREVELYANThe inquiry held by an officer of the Board in May, 1908, with reference to the administration of the Wrexham Parochial (Educational) Foundation included the question whether, 913 upon the true construction of the Chancery Scheme, the school premises of the Foundation at Brymbo can be used for the purposes of denominational education. The Board, having taken legal opinion upon this question, expressed the opinion that the teachers of the school cannot, under the Chancery Scheme, teach to the children in the school the doctrines or tenets of the Church of England, or do more in the way of religious teaching or instruction than is provided in Clause 25 of the Scheme, but that the managers have, under Section 7 (6) of the Education Act, 1902, the control of the religious instruction (if any) to be given in the school, and can, under Clause 29 of the Scheme, allow the clergyman to enter and to give such religious instruction as they approve. This opinion has been challenged by the trustees, and the Board have now certified the case to the Attorney-General under the Charitable Trusts Acts with a view to obtaining a judicial decision.
§ Lord ROBERT CECILWhen is the final decision on this matter likely to be reached, because it is very difficult for managers to take steps to rebuild the school, or do whatever is required, until they know exactly how they stand?
§ Mr. TREVELYANI am afraid that that is not in our hands. I cannot tell the Noble Lord. Perhaps he had better ask the Attorney-General.