§ 23. Mr. KINGasked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that in Torquay borough there are sixteen elementary schools, of which seven have an average attendance under 160 and four have an average attendance under ninety; and whether, with a view of reducing the rates and of providing at the 418 same time more efficient education, he will suggest to the managers of the various small schools in Torquay that by rearranging and concentrating the educational facilities a better education can be given at a lower expenditure?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of EDUCATION (Mr. J. A. Pease)The facts are as stated. Only one of these schools is provided by the local authority. Two of them are Roman Catholic schools, and the extent of the area and its hilly character partly account for the number of schools. I am very glad to further the amalgamation of small urban schools in any way I can, but the Board's suggestions in this matter seldom meet with much response and I have no authority to require amalgamation.
§ Mr. KINGIn view of the necessity of concentrating all our natural forces at this time, would the right hon. Gentleman make a suggestion to these authorities?