§ 71. Mr. KINGasked the President of the Board of Education whether His Majesty's inspector condemned the school at Ewell, Surrey, in his Report for the year ended 30th April, 1904, and instructed the managers on 29th June, 1904, to make improvements without delay; whether these condemnations have been repeated frequently in subsequent years; whether in January, 1908, the local education authority 1860 informed the Board of their willingness to provide a new school; whether the Board of Education decided in November, 1909, not to recognise the school in its existing premises after 10th April, 1911, and to pay no further Grant; whether the school still continues in exactly the same condition as was condemned ten years ago; whether it is still recognised and the Grant paid; and what explanation has he to offer for the injury inflicted on the children of the parish?
§ Mr. TREVELYANHis Majesty's inspector reported unfavourably upon the premises of the school in 1904, and recommended the managers to submit a scheme for their improvement without delay. Similar reports were made in subsequent, years. The statements contained in the remainder of the hon. Member's question are substantially correct. In 1911 the Board informed the local education authority that they would raise no objection to the school continuing to be conducted in the existing premises for a, limited period after the 30th April, 1911, pending the provision of further school accommodation, and have paid the Grant. Plans have been approved for adapting the premises as a school for boys, and the Board are now pressing the authority to provide the accommodation required for girls and infants.
§ Mr. KINGAre we really to take it that this school was seriously reported on in 1904, and that no improvements have taken place up to the present time?
§ Mr. TREVELYANThere is a prospect that by the end of the year the school will be put right.
§ Mr. KINGCannot the hon. Gentleman face the question fairly. Was not this school in 1904 condemned, and why have nine years been allowed to elapse without anything having been done?
§ Mr. TREVELYANObjections were taken by the Board to the condition of the school, but we cannot cure defects in the school premises all over the country in a year, or even two years. There are a good many cases in which a considerable amount of time is required; in this case the school will be put right in the course of the next three or four months.