HC Deb 05 November 1919 vol 120 cc1489-90
45. Sir W. DAVISON

asked the Prime Minister whether he was aware that the Board of Education had for many months past declined to give effect to an application from the trustees of an educational endowment left by British citizens praying that exhibitions awarded out of such endowment should be confined to the children of British subjects and should not be awarded to the children of aliens; and whether the Board of Education were correct in stating that the Government had not made up their minds as to the policy to be adopted with regard to awards from British endowments to the children of aliens who had not been naturalised?

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

The Prime Minister has asked me to reply to this question. I am advised that the legality of any such limitation of the existing trusts by way of an amending scheme is very doubtful, and I should find great difficulty in defending the adoption of the Trustees' proposal on grounds of educational policy.

Sir W. DAVISON

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether the Board of Education are still of opinion that the competition of the children of unnaturalised aliens is a useful stimulation to British boys and girls?

Mr. FISHER

The Board of Education is of opinion that it is riot to the educational advantage of the country to limit the operation of an educational trust.