HC Deb 28 July 1919 vol 118 cc1898-9

Order for Second Reading read.

The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of EDUCATION (Mr. Fisher)

I beg to move. That the Bill be now read a second time. This Bill is designed to meet a difficulty in the case of schools or other educational institutions conducted under trusts or instruments which are inconsistent with the conditions of receipt of Grants proposed by the Regulations of the Board of Education. The application of such an institution for a Grant cannot be entertained unless the trust or instrument of Government is altered by a scheme made under the Charitable Trusts Act or Endowed Schools Act, or by a competent Court. Such alterations have often occasioned great delay and inconvenience. This Bill embodies no principle which is new to our educational legislation. The Elementary Education Act of 1870 contains a provision enabling the managers of elementary schools to fulfil the conditions of Parliamentary Grants notwithstanding any provision contained in any instrument regulating trusts or management of their schools. The present Bill places the governing bodies of secondary schools and other institutions for higher education in the same position as managers of public elementary schools. In view of the modification of the Regulations for secondary schools in receipt of Grants, I have reason to believe that this Bill will be valued and will be welcome to the governing bodies of those schools.

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read a second time.

Resolved, That this House will immediately resolve itself into the Committee on the Bill."—[Mr. fisher]

Bill accordingly considered in Committee, and reported, without Amendment; read the third time, and passed.