§ 39 and 40. Mr. KINGasked the President of the Board of Education (1) whether the trust deed of the Oakham national school is being violated in respect of the religious education now being given; whether the bishop of the diocese has been consulted; and whether he is prepared to advise all managers of schools with the National Society's trust deed that they may safely violate their trust deeds in a similar manner; and (2) whether the trust deed of the national school at Oakham, Rutland, provides that the religious instruction shall be according to the principles and in furtherance of the ends and designs of the National Society for Promoting the Principles of the Established Church, including instruction in the liturgy and catechism of that Church; that the religious instruction to be given in the said school shall be vested in the vicar of the parish, and that the teachers are to be members of the Church 2205 of England; whether Nonconformist teachers have been appointed and are giving Nonconformist teaching and that Nonconformist ministers have been invited to take the place of the vicar in controlling, assisting, and directing such teaching; whether the trust deed further provides that, in case any difference shall arise on any matter respecting the religious instruction, an appeal may be made to the bishop of the diocese, whose decision in writing shall be final and conclusive and binding upon all parties; and whether, as Sub-section (4) of Section 7 of the Education Act makes it one of the conditions to be fulfilled by a school in order to obtain a Parliamentary Grant that the religious instruction shall, as regards its character, be in accordance with the provisions of the trust deed, he will obtain the prescribed decision of the bishop in writing before paying the Parliamentary Grant to this school?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of EDUCATION (Mr. Trevelyan)My right hon. Friend is not aware that the trust deed is being violated and he does not know whether the bishop of the diocese has been consulted. The trust deed declares that the school shall be conducted in accordance with the doctrines, principles, and discipline of the Church of England, and according to the principles and in furtherance of the ends and designs of the National Society, and that the vicar shall have the superintendence of the religious and moral instruction of the scholars. It does not specifically define the character of the religious instruction to be given in the school, nor does it require all teachers in the school to be members of the Church of England. On the facts at present before him he sees no reason to intervene in the matter.
§ Mr. KINGWill the hon. Gentleman put this matter, which is a very large one, before the Law Officers of the Crown with the object of getting their report upon it?
§ Mr. TREVELYANI do not think that there is any necessity for that in view of the nature of the trust.
§ Mr. HOAREDoes the hon. Gentleman not regard it as a commendable fact that managers of non-provided schools should give facilities to Nonconformist parents and others who desire them?
§ Mr. TREVELYANAs far as I know, the arrangements in these cases are working perfectly well.
§ Sir RYLAND ADKINSWill the hon. Gentleman make the further inquiries asked for by my hon. Friend the Member for Somerset, in order to ascertain by whose authority and to what extent these things are done, and whether they be desirable or not?
§ Mr. TREVELYANI do not think that there is any need to make inquiries. If my hon. Friends have any information which they think I have not got, I should be very glad to consider it.
§ Mr. SPEAKERWe really must get on with the questions.