§ Mr. LEACHasked the President of the Board of Education if he will inform the House in how many teachers' training colleges places are now reserved for Nonconformist students, and give the number of such reserved places in the London training colleges and the number of Nonconformist students occupying the reserved places in the London colleges?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThe only training colleges in which places can be said to be reserved for Nonconformist students are two Wesleyan training colleges—both in London. The authorities of these two training colleges have power to give a preference to Wesleyan students in the selection of candidates for one-half their vacant places, but I do not know to what extent they avail themselves of this power. One-half of the number of places in the two colleges taken together amounts to 142. Nonconformist students now have access to every training college under the provisions of Article 8 of the Regulations. The number of training college places to which Nonconformist students have access on the same terms as other students is now 10,190 in England and Wales, and 3,090 in London. The Board have not thought it expedient to inquire into the religious convictions of students admitted to training colleges, and no answer can therefore be given to the last part of the question.