§ 17. Mr. DENVILLEasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of 1291 Education whether he will ascertain the total cost to the public authorities entailed in the prosecution and conviction of Mr. Finlan, in Birmingham, who was fined for refusing to send his child to a council school at Stretford?
§ Mr. RAMSBOTHAM.My Noble Friend regrets that it would not be practicable to obtain the information asked for in the question, but the actual cost of the legal proceedings to the local education authority was 5s.
§ Mr. DENVILLEWill the hon. Gentleman give us Finlan's reason for refusing to send his child to a council school?
§ Mr. RAMSBOTHAMThe position is quite simple. The child has to go to school, and the parent appears to think the nearest Catholic school is too far off. It would be unreasonable to suppose that the local education authority can convey children of every religious denomination to the school of their choice, if the school does not happen to be on their doorstep.
§ Mr. LOGANCould not the education authority make provision for people who are not in a position to pay?
§ Mr. RAMSBOTHAMI say it is quite impossible to provide motor conveyances to take every child to the school of the parent's choice.