§ 23. Mr. R. RICHARDSONasked the President of the Board of Education whether, seeing that the Board have refused to sanction additional school accommodation on the new Roehampton London County Council Housing Estate on the ground that other schools in the neighbourhood are not completely filled up, he has taken into consideration the fact that a number of parents resident on the estate are withholding their children from school sooner than allow them to attend a Church of England school or a Roman Catholic school, or to walk a mile or more each way so as to attend a council school; and is it the intention of the Board, in order to utilise to the utmost the accommodation in existing schools, that parents should be compelled to send their children to denominational schools or to schools at a considerable distance from their homes?
§ Lord E. PERCYThe Board have had no correspondence with the Council on this question since the year 1923. I understand, however, that the Council are now considering a proposal for the provision of additional school accommodation on the estate, and any proposal submitted will be considered on its merits.
§ Mr. RICHARDSONWill the Noble Lord bring pressure to bear on the people in question to have this matter rectified?
§ Lord E. PERCYI do not understand the hon. Member.
§ Mr. RICHARDSONWill the Noble Lord take the matter in hand?
§ Lord E. PERCYI understand that the council are now considering it.
§ Mr. RICHARDSONI agree that they are considering it, but they have been two years doing nothing, and I want them to do something.
§ Mr. MORGAN JONESMeanwhile, is the Noble Lord aware that some of these children are being obliged to go into denominational schools, and, if that be so, is any time taken for denominational teaching out of normal school hours?
§ Lord E. PERCYI do not know where the children are going.