Mr. SILVESTER HORNEasked the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the action of the Tees Valley Water Board on Monday, 13th March, in voting a sum of money for the support of the Sadberge Church schools; and whether it is the custom of the Local Government Board auditor to permit such votes of public money to institutions denominational in character?
§ Mr. BURNSI was informed some time ago that the Tees Valley Water Board were about to consider a suggestion that they should subscribe £15 to a fund for enlarging the public elementary school at Sadberge. It was stated that if this school was not enlarged at a cost of some £110, the alternative would be the building of new schools by the education authority at a cost of perhaps £1,500, a considerable proportion of which would fall upon the Water Board in their capacity of ratepayers. If the suggested payment has been made it will come before the auditor at the audit, who will, no doubt, consider its legality.
Mr. SILVESTER HORNEMay I ask whether there is not an obligation on the part of limited companies whose members may be Nonconformists not to subscribe to such schools?