§ Viscount WOLMERasked the President of the Board of Education if he will explain why both the infants' department and the mixed department of the Earlestown Wesleyan school have been closed; whether he is aware that the inspector who condemned the mixed departments never condemned the infants' department until it had been decided to close the mixed department; and whether he is aware that no other use has yet been found for the buildings, and that the new council schools are estimated to cost £12,000?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANNeither department of the school has yet been closed. In the 32 first instance a part only of the mixed department was condemned. Subsequently the managers were informed that the remainder of the premises would not be recognised after a certain date unless by that date steps were being taken to remedy the defects of the premises or to provide new accommodation. The Board have now been informed that the managers will not attempt to carry on the infants' department or any portion of the school as a voluntary school, and a temporary transfer of the premises to the local education authority is in contemplation. With regard to the last part of the question, the Board have not yet received any estimate of the cost of the proposed new council schools.