§ Mr. A. T. DAVIESasked the President of the Board of Education whether his attention has been drawn to the closing of a number of schools at Croydon; whether he is aware that this is a repetition of a position which has arisen in other districts, and that the education and instructions of some thousands of children have thus been seriously interfered with; whether the Education Department took any steps to prevent such an occurrence; has any resort to arbitration been suggested by the Education Department; and, in view of the unsatisfactory nature of the present position in these matters of dispute between education and teaching staffs, what action does the Education Department propose to take?
§ Lord E. PERCYThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I may refer my hon. Friend to the reply my right hon. Friend gave on the 12th April to the hon. Member for the Central Division of Southwark (Mr. Gilbert).