§ 18 Mr. KINGasked the President of the Board of Education (1) at what date the Board sanctioned fees being charged at the West Derby, Birch-field Road Council School, Liverpool; 1565 whether it was made a condition of approval that the amount received from fees should be taken in reduction of the fee grant; whether he will state what educational benefit, if any, was alleged by the local authority at the time the fees were sanctioned; whether the sanction of the Board has been reconsidered from time to time as provided by the Statute; whether he will again consider the sanction of fees in this school and discontinue such sanction unless now satisfied that the imposition of a fee is required according to the Statute; and, if he is satisfied that the fee is for the educational benefit of the district, whether he will state fully what that educational benefit is to-day; (2) at what date the Board sanctioned fees being charged at the West Derby, Lister Drive Council School, Liverpool; whether it was made a condition of approval that the amount received from fees should be taken in reduction of the fee grant; whether he will state what educational benefit, if any, was alleged by the local authority at the time the fees were sanctioned; whether the sanction of the Board has been reconsidered from time to time, as provided by the Statute; whether he will again consider the sanction of fees in this school, and discontinue such sanction unless now satisfied that the imposition of a fee is required according to the Statute; and, if he is satisfied that the fee is for the educational benefit of the district, whether he will state fully what that educational benefit is to-day; and (3) at what date the Board sanctioned fees being charged at the West Derby, Rathbone Council School, Liverpool; whether it was made a condition of approval that the amount received from fees should be taken in reduction of the fee grant; whether he will state what educational benefit, if any, was alleged by the local authority at the time the fees were sanctioned; whether the sanction of the Board has been reconsidered from time to time, as provided by the Statute; whether he will again consider the sanction of fees in this school and discontinue such sanction unless now satisfied that the imposition of a fee is required according to the Statute; and, if he is satisfied that the fee is for the educational benefit of the district, whether he will state fully what that educational benefit is to-day?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of EDUCATION (Mr. J. A. Pease)Fees were sanctioned in the West Derby (Birch-field Road) Council School on the 15th 1566 January, 1901; in the Lister Drive Council School on the 5th March, 1908; in the Rathbone Council School on the 14th August, 1896. In none of these cases was it made a condition of approval that the amount received should be taken in reduction of fee grant. In each case the application was based on a change in the population of the district. The Statute does not appear to require a periodical reconsideration of the fees; it only enables such reconsideration to be made. It does not appear that in the case of these schools any occasion has arisen for reconsideration. I am informed by His Majesty's inspector that the Birchfield Road School is provided with rooms for practical work, including cookery and laundry rooms and a bath and gymnasium; and the Rathbone School is provided with rooms for practical work, an art room, a cookery room, and a bath; and that the standard of work in the Lister Drive School is high.
§ Mr. KINGWould the right hon. Gentleman say definitely whether these educational facilities and advantages are really made the greater by charging fees, and is it not necessary, according to the Act, that the charging of fees should make the educational facilities the greater?
§ Mr. PEASEI think that the local authorities, if they do charge fees, may be expected to provide rather special facilities and equipment in their schools.
§ Mr. KINGAre there not a great many authorities that provide all these additional facilities without charging fees?
§ Sir J. D. REESIs it necessary to make an apology for every fee collection? Is it not a proper proceeding?