§ Mr. LEES SMITHasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of the income of reformatory schools and industrial schools, respectively, was in 1909 derived from public sources; and what proportion was derived from private subscriptions?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Churchill)In England and Wales Reformatories receive 90 per cent. of their income from public sources, private subscriptions amount to 2 per cent., the balance being made up of such items as industrial profit, interest on investments, etc. As regards English Industrial Schools the proportion from public sources is 84 per cent. and private subscriptions 8 per cent. In the cases of schools under voluntary management, it must be remembered that the buildings have been provided by the managers.
§ Mr. LEES SMITHasked the Home Secretary whether the committee of management of reformatory schools, other than those which may be established by education authorities, need contain any representatives of the local authorities of the districts in which they are situated?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe committees of management of reformatory schools need not necessarily include representatives of local authorities of the district in which they are situated; but local authorities which make use of a school sometimes arrange for representation on the committee; and managers of these schools are often members of county or borough councils. The local authorities which can contribute to or can themselves establish reformatory schools are county and county borough councils, and not local education authorities.
§ Mr. LEES SMITHWill the right hon. Gentleman make it part of the reference to the committee appointed to inquire into this matter to investigate the desirability of local authorities having separate representation?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLNo doubt the Committee will consider that, but I would point out that a great deal of voluntary service is given to these schools and that those who volunteer their services often bear a considerable proportion of the expense out of their own pocket.
§ Sir HENRY CRAIKIs it not the case that the influence of the State is brought 198 to bear through the inspection to which these schools are subjected?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThat is so, of course, but I am not satisfied that the inspection is sufficient.
§ Sir HENRY CRAIKMake it more so.
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThat is one of the matters the Committee will inquire into.
§ Mr. LEES SMITHCould the right hon. Gentleman not include in the reference to the Committee the question of transferring jurisdiction over these schools from the Home Office to the Board of Education?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI should like notice of that question.