HC Deb 14 January 1913 vol 46 cc1878-9
50. Mr. LANE-FOX

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether, when he refused his consent to the enclosure of 368 square yards of the waste land of Sharlston Common for the purpose of extending the playground and conveniences of a public elementary school, he considered the educational needs of the case; whether he consulted the Board of Education or the local education authority of the West Riding; whether he is aware of the universal desire of the ratepayers of the parish, including those having commonable rights, that the school should be so extended; and whether his only objection was that the school in question happened to be a Church of England school?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

I communicated to the Board of Education my decision in the case to which the hon. Member refers. I had no means of knowing whether the desire referred to in the latter part of the question was universal or not, but, even if it is held by the ratepayers and I was aware of it, I could not have allowed the present commoners to alienate common rights for the purposes proposed. My decision would have been the same no matter what denomination owned the school.

Mr. LANE-FOX

Is not the enlargement of a playground and the conveniences of a public elementary school a matter of public utility and public importance, and has not the enclosure of common land for public improvements been constantly sanctioned by the Board?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

I cannot say what has been done in the past, but in this case I have published my decision, and I am not prepared to change it.

Mr. LANE-FOX

Will the right hon. Gentleman answer that part of the question which asks whether he has had any communication with the local education authorities of the West Riding?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

That would not be my business. I communicated with the Board of Education, and the Board of Education have conducted any negotiations necessary.

Mr. LANE-FOX

Is it not a fact that the right hon. Gentleman is really taking a hand in the campaign of the West Biding Education Committee against Church schools? In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the right hon. Gentleman's reply, I will raise the question on the adjournment.

Mr. RUNCIMAN

I think it is a most unjustifiable statement that the hon. Gentleman has just made. I am acting, as President of the Board of Agriculture, in safeguarding common rights.