§ 81. Mr. KINGasked the President of the Board of Education whether the religious instruction given in the national school of Oakharm, Rutland, is not in accordance with the provisions of the trust deed as required by Sub-section (6) of Section 7 of the Education Act, 1902; whether he has informed the managers of this infringement of the conditions required to be fulfilled by a school in order to obtain a Parliamentary Grant as provided by Subsection (4) of the same Section; whether 1432 he will direct the managers either to obey their trust deed or to take steps to alter it; and whether the Grant will be withheld until one course or the other is adopted?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of EDUCATION (Mr. Trevelyan)The trust deed of the Oakham national or Church of England school contains a provision for the reference of any dispute as to the religious teaching given in the school to the bishop of the diocese. In view, therefore, of the proviso in Section 7 (6) of the Education Act, 1902, the question whether the religious instruction given in the school is in accordance with the trust deed appears to be one for the bishop, and not for the Board.
§ Mr. KINGHas not this school got the usual National Society trustee; and, if so, does not that trustee provide instruction on behalf of the Church of England?
§ Mr. TREVELYANI think my hon. Friend will find, if he reads the Section of the Act, that what I say is correct.
§ Mr. GRETTONMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman if it is a fact that religious instruction in the Oakham school is the result of an arrangement made locally, which has not met with any opposition, and gives general satisfaction?
§ Mr. TREVELYANI believe it is the fact that it is the result of an arrangement. I do not know whether it has given satisfaction.