§ 69. Mr. AMMONasked the President of the Board of Education whether the scheme under consideration to render Dulwich College independent of Government grants will stop the flow of scholarships from publicly-provided schools to the college; and what effect will it have on the fund set aside under the present scheme for the establishment of a girls' college?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of EDUCATION (Lord Eustace Percy)If the college ceases to be grant-aided it will be relieved of the obligation under the Board's regulations to offer free places to pupils from public elementary schools, but I do not anticipate that the intake of such pupils into the College would, on that account, be terminated. As regards the second part of the question, there is under the existing scheme no fund specifically earmarked for the provision of a girls' school. The draft scheme, on the other hand, provides that one-quarter of the ultimate residue of the net yearly income, or £5,000, whichever is the greater amount, shall be invested with a view to the framing of a further scheme for the establishment in or near Dulwich of a girls' school of the highest class, provided that if the whole residue in any year is less than £10,000, half of it shall be applied to the purposes of the girls' school.
§ Mr. AMMONIs it not within the power of the Department to give or withhold consent to this scheme; and will the Department withhold that consent, considering that the scheme will deprive large numbers of elementary and 2093 secondary school-children of scholarships? Will the right hon. Gentleman also answer the question as to what would be done with the fund mentioned should the scheme come into operation?
§ Sir W. DAVISONIs it not desirable that colleges and institutions of this kind should paddle their own canoe without sponging on State funds?
Sir F. HALLIs it not a fact that the whole income from the Dulwich estate is used for purposes of education with the exception of just a few eleemosynary pensions?
§ Lord E. PERCYThe hon. Member for North Camberwell (Mr. Ammon), I think, is under a misapprehension. The Board in administering schemes of this kind is discharging the functions, not so much of an administrative department of His Majesty's Government as of a trustee whose duty is to see that the purposes of the original foundation, are properly carried out. I could not contemplate the possibility that the Board of Education would refuse to act properly in the capacity of a trustee, in order to secure some particular advantage under our own Regulations. As regards the last part of the supplementary question, if the hon. Member reads the answer I have given, he will see that there is no connection whatever between the question of the free places in the college and the future possibility of a girls' school.
§ Mr. AMMONIs it not a fact that the original foundation of Alleyn's College of God's Gift, was for the education of poor children, that it has now been partly taken, and is going to be further taken by this proposed scheme?
§ Lord E. PERCYI do not think the hon. Member's statement is accurate. If he puts down another question on the subject, I will answer it.
Sir F. HALLWill the right hon. Gentleman be kind enough to answer my question whether it is not a fact that the whole income from the Dulwich estates with the exception of a few eleemosynary pensions is used for educational purposes?
§ Lord E. PERCYIf my hon. and gallant Friend will give me notice of a question of that kind, I shall be very glad to answer it.