Mr. LLEWELYNasked the President of the Board of Education if the Merthyr Tydvil education authority had been repeatedly called upon to make better provision for the children left unprovided for by the closing of St. David's Schools; whether he was aware that at least twelve places of worship were being hired for school purposes and paid for out of the rates, which were thereby being used to provide endowment out of public money for denominational religion; and what steps, if any, he proposed to take?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThe Board hare for some time been pressing the local education authority to provide satisfactory accommodation for all the children of their area, and they recently approved arrangements under which provision will be made in new school premises for some 500 children in the neighbourhood of the former St. David's School. I am aware that a number of buildings are temporarily occupied for school purposes pending the provision of new accommodation, but I do not know how many of them can be accurately described as "places of worship." The Board are only concerned with the question of their suitability for temporary recognition for school purposes. The Board are taking all the usual steps to secure adequate school accommodation for the area.
Mr. LLEWELYNWere not the managers of this school prepared to rebuild the premises if they had not been prevented?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI must ask for notice.
§ Mr. KEIR HARDIEWas there any reason for supposing that the education authority had been lax in the performance of its duty?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI cannot say the local authority had shown themselves very enthusiastic, but I should like to have full notice as to details of the question.