§ 67. Mr. PETOasked the President of the Board of Agriculture when it became the policy of his Department not to authorise payment of money from Crown funds to be spent on schools not under complete 1810 public control; whether, in the case of the parish of Bromham, Wilts, where one-half of the lands in the parish is the property of the Crown, any contribution from Crown funds has ever been made towards the improvement or upkeep of the Church school; and, if so, when?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANUntil the passing of the Education Act, 1902, annual contributions were made by the Commissioners of Woods to many denominational schools, including the Bromham National School. After the passing of that Act annual contributions were discontinued, but, in exceptional circumstances and where no provided schools existed, contributions have been occasionally made towards the expense of works required to improve denominational schools. There have, I understand, been only two such contributions made in the last five years, and I do not propose to recommend any more. The Crown does not own as much as one-half the parish of Bromham; probably about one-fourth in value would be nearer.
§ Mr. PETOIs it not the fact that on 7th June, 1907, the predecessor of the right hon. Gentleman the Marquess of Lincolnshire granted to this very school out of public moneys a sum of £23 towards improvements that were made in those, schools?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI have had no opportunity of verifying that statement.