§ Mr. NIELDasked the President of the Board of Education what is the reason for delaying to place the elementary school attached to the Mallock Lane, Ealing, Roman Catholic church on the list of schools earning the grant; whether he is aware that all notices and other formalities required by the Department have been given and complied with as long ago as March, 1908, and 425 that no objection or appeal was lodged to the proposal to establish the school, which has been built to plans approved by the Department and the local authority in 1909 and opened in August, 1910; and, under these circumstances, what is the reason for directing a public inquiry to be held?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of EDUCATION (Mr. Runciman)The school has not been placed upon the Grant List because I am not yet satisfied that it is really necessary. Statutory notices appear to have been issued in 1908, but they were first communicated to the Board in May, 1909. No objection or appeal appears to have been lodged during the statutory period. The promoters of the school have been kept informed from the beginning that the Board would require information satisfying them as to the necessity of the school before it could be placed upon the Grant List. The information which has been supplied to the Board is not sufficiently precise. The purpose of the public inquiry is to enable the Board to acquire further information.
§ Mr. NIELDDoes not the right hon. Gentleman think the fact that there are ninety pupils sufficiently warrants the school to be recognised?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANNo, that is not the only point that has to be taken into consideration. We shall have to review the whole question after the inquiry.
Mr. KINGWill the right hon. Gentleman assure the House that no great additional burden will be placed upon the ratepayers by giving a grant to this school?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThat point will be taken into consideration.