§ 39. Mr. THURTLEasked the President of the Board of Education whether his Department takes steps to see that agreed syllabuses of religious teaching in provided schools are in conformity with the Cowper-Temple Clause governing such teaching?
§ Sir C. TREVELYANThe Board do not inspect or otherwise supervise religious instruction, but I have no reason to think that any local authority has adopted for its provided schools a syllabus of religious instruction with includes the teaching of a religious catechism or religious formulary distinctive of any particular denomination.
§ Mr. THURTLEIs the President of the Board of Education aware that in these provided schools absolute doctrinal points are taught, such as the belief in the Virgin birth and other religious—[Interruption.] Am I not entitled, in a supplementary question, to ask the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that breaches of the Cowper-Temple Clause are taking place in connection with provided schools?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member is entitled to ask a supplementary question in order to elucidate the answer which has been given by the President of the Board of Education, but he is not entitled to ask anything further.
§ Mr. THURTLEMay I ask the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that in certain of these schools doctrinal teaching is being included in the authorised syllabus?
§ Sir C. TREVELYANI am not aware of that fact, but, if my hon. Friend has any such information, perhaps he will give it to me.