§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEasked what regulations, if any, govern the area of playgrounds in elementary schools; whether these regulations are contained in the Education Act of 1902 or in any other legislative enactment, or whether they were drawn up by the Department; and, if the latter, what special legal provisions are they intended to carry out?
§ Mr. TREVELYANThere is no regulation which specifies precisely the area of playground accommodation which may be required for a public elementary school. Every public elementary school is required by Section 7, Sub-section (4), of the Elementary Education Act, 1870, to be conducted in accordance with the conditions required to be fulfilled by an elementary school in order to obtain an annual Parliamentary Grant. Section 97 of the same Act lays down that these conditions shall be those contained in the Minutes of the Education Department in force for the time being. The Minutes of the Education Department, commonly known as the Code, require the school premises (which include the playground) to be sufficient, convenient, and suitably arranged for the instruction of the children in attendance according to their age. The general principles governing the size of playgrounds are set out in Rule 1 of Part II. of the Building Regulations, which have effect as part of the Code.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEDo these regulations apply equally to provided and non-provided schools?
§ Mr. TREVELYANYes, Sir.