HC Deb 10 February 1913 vol 48 cc457-8
3. Mr. KING

asked whether the site of the Church of England school at Croscombe, Somerset, was obtained under an Act of William IV., under which the lord of the manor is entitled to convey waste of the manor for a school without any consent obtained from the commoners; and whether steps will be taken to prevent this Act being used for encroaching on commoners' and public rights if an extension of these school premises is desired?

Mr. GULLAND (Lord of the Treasury)

The Board have no knowledge of the circumstances in which the site of Croscombe Church of England school was obtained. No grant of common land under the School Sites Act, 1841, can now be made without the consent of the Board.

86. Mr. KING

asked the President of the Board of Education whether his attention has been called to certain irregularities in the management of the Croscombe Church of England school, Somerset; and, if so, what action has been taken?

The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of EDUCATION (Mr. J. A. Pease)

The only information I have received in regard to irregularities in the conduct of the school referred to is contained in a series of somewhat lengthy letters addressed to me from the asylum at Wells, but I will communicate with the school authorities in the matter.

87. Mr. KING

asked whether His Majesty's inspector has required structural improvements to be made in the Croscombe Church of England school, Somerset; if so, when the requirements of the Board were first conveyed to the managers; and why the improvements have not been carried out?

Mr. PEASE

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. Attention was first drawn to certain defects in the premises in May, 1910. Definite requirements were, however, made in March, 1911, with regard to the heating, lighting, and ventilation of the school, and two months later the authority's attention was called to the unsatisfactory character of the outside office accommodation. Plans were received in June and August of last year and approved in July of last year and in January of this year, respectively.