§ 31. Mr. KINGasked the President of the Board of Education whether he has noted that in the case of King's Lynn there is, 906 according to the latest published figures, an overcrowding of elementary children in seven departments; and whether any action is to be urged on the local education authority?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of EDUCATION (Mr. J. A. Pease)According to the latest Returns in the possession of the Board, which are for the school years ended in 1913, the average attendance does not exceed the recognised accommodation in any of the departments of the public elementary schools in King's Lynn. In these circumstances I do not propose to take any action.
§ 32. Mr. KINGasked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that, in the recently issued list of schools, the figures given in respect of Charlton, St. Bartholomew, and St. Mary Church of England schools show that in six departments of these three schools overcrowding exists, and in one case the overcrowding amounts to nearly 20 per cent.; and whether he will issue an urgent warning to the Dover local authority that adequate school accommodation must be provided forthwith?
§ Mr. PEASEAccording to the latest Returns in the possession of the Board, which are for the school year ended November, 1913, the recognised accommodation exceeds the average attendance in all departments of the schools referred to by the hon. Member. The pressure in these schools has been relieved by the opening of the girls' department of the Barton Road Council School in September, 1912, and the enlargement of a neighbouring non-provided school. In the circumstances I do not propose to take any action.
§ Mr. KINGIn view of the very large number of overcrowding cases in Dover, will the right hon. Gentleman instruct an inspector to go down there and really see what is going on?
§ Mr. PEASEI think we are fully informed as to what is going on. If my hon. Friend desires to draw my attention to any particular school I shall be glad to see what can be done.
§ 33. Mr. KINGasked whether His Majesty's inspector condemned the school at Ewell, Surrey, in his Report for the year ending 30th April, 1904, and instructed the managers on 29th June, 1904, to make improvements without delay; 907 whether these condemnations and warnings have been repeated frequently in subsequent years; whether in January, 1908, the local education authority informed the Board that they were ready to provide a new school; whether the Board decided in November. 1909, not to recognise the school in its existing premises after 10th April, 1911, and to pay no further Grant; whether on 22nd July, 1913, it was officially promised that the school would be put right in three or four months; whether the school still continues in exactly the same condition as eleven years ago; and whether the Board of Education is now prepared to call on the local education authority to supply proper school accommodation in Ewell?
§ Mr. PEASEThe statements contained in the hon. Member's question are substantially correct. The delay in adapting the premises of the church school as a school for boys is due to the fact that the work cannot be proceeded with until the completion of the new council school for girls and infants. There has been some difficulty in obtaining a suitable site for the council school, but a site has now been approved by the Board, and I understand that the plans will shortly be submitted. The authority have been warned that the payment of the Grant for the current year and the continued recognition of the church school premises will depend on the progress made with the erection of the new council school.
§ Mr. KINGIn view of the fact that those warnings have been going on for ten years, does not the right hon. Gentleman think it would be better now to proceed to action, otherwise the authority will only be laughed at?
§ 35. Mr. KINGasked how many of the 6,000 school places in Birmingham which were promised a year ago have been provided; and for what number of those not yet provided have plans been approved and tenders accepted?
§ Mr. PEASEWithin the last year 2,100 new school places have been provided in Birmingham. Plans have been finally approved for 266 further places, preliminary plans have been approved for, 1,800 more, and sites have been approved 908 for a further 2,200. I am unable to say in what cases tenders have been accepted. The Board also have before them proposals involving the provision of 3,050 places in addition to those which I have mentioned.
§ 36. Mr. KINGasked the President of the Board of Education whether ho is aware that the overcrowding of the Church of England school at High Town, Crewe, is shown by th latest figures published to be still continuing; and whether the reduction of Grant threatened a year ago, if the overcrowding continued, has been carried out?
§ Mr. PEASEThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The Grant has been suspended, and the Board are awaiting a further communication from the local education authority with regard to the provision of the new council school before they come to a decision as to the terms upon which the Grant can be paid.
§ Mr. KINGAs to these various answers, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he is aware that there are only a few that have really the required amount of accommodation, that a very large number are overcrowded, and that in consequence a very great scandal exists, and whether he will look further into the matter?
§ Mr. PEASEI have already looked into the question all over the country, and I understand that the hon. Member is doing the same thing.
§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the people of the country prefer that their children should be educated in church schools rather than in council schools?
§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSIt is so.