§ 78. Mr. T. WILLIAMSasked the President of the Board of Education whether the West Riding (Yorkshire) Education Committee have yet purchased a site at Hatfield, near Doncaster, for an elementary school; and, if so, is it the intention of the committee to provide temporary accommodation pending the erection of a permanent school?
§ Lord E. PERCYI have no later information on either point than that given in my reply to the hon. Member on the 19th March.
§ 79. Mr. WILLIAMSalso asked the President of the Board of Education whether the West Riding (Yorkshire) Education Committee have yet purchased a site at Armthorpe, near Doncaster, for an elementary school; and, if so, can he state how long it will be before a temporary school will be erected?
§ Lord E. PERCYThe local education authority informed the Board, an the 21st March that they had not, up to that date, been successful in obtaining any land upon which to erect the proposed new school at Armthorpe, or upon which even temporary accommodation could be erected. The authority are continuing their efforts. Once land can be secured I have no doubt that every effort will be made to erect temporary accommodation with the least possible delay.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSIs it not perfectly true to say that the local education authority refused, or failed to send on the information called for; and if the Noble Lord aware that land has been furnished in some cases for the erection of permanent buildings? Will he, therefore, undertake to intimate to the local education authority that they ought not to wait until this state of affairs exists before they take action?
§ Lord E. PERCYI think the assumption is the question of the hon. Member that the local education authority has been remiss in this matter is quite untrue. I have seen the local authority on the matter of this school within the last few days.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSIs the Noble Lord not aware that since the first question was put down a fortnight ago the authority has actually bought the land required for the erection of the school in question, and does he not think that they could have done that previously had they so desired?
§ 80. Mr. WILLIAMSfurther asked if the Minister was aware that the Thorne Colliery Company intend to erect nearly 2,000 houses during the next few years; that the school accommodation will soon be inadequate; and whether any steps are being taken by the local education committee to meet the requirements in this district?
§ Lord E. PERCYI have seen a statement in the Press to the effect that the Thorne Colliery Company are desirous of erecting 1,800 houses in the course of the next few years, and I am aware that the existing public elementary schools serving this area are nearly full. With regard to the last part of the question, I can only refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave him on the 19th 1828 March last. I have no doubt that the position is being kept under the careful observation of the local authority.