§ Mr. JOHNasked the President of the Board of Education what schools in receipt of grant, and heretofore infringing the Board's regulations as to the supply of drinking water, have complied with the Board's regulations in this matter during the last twelve months; whether the lack of provision of drinking water subjects the authorities of these schools to warnings or penalties; whether the lack of provision of drinking water is considered an adequate reason for including these schools on the list, of schools considered unsatisfactory; and what proportion of the schools still unprovided with a proper supply of 1799W drinking water will be required to proceed to comply with the Board's regulations in this respect within the next six months?
§ Lord E. PERCYI am afraid I do not quite understand the hon. Member's reference to the Board's regulations. In new schools the Board expect a supply of drinking water to be readily available, and the Board and school authorities are fully alive to the importance of securing a supply where practicable in existing schools;, but the water supply at a village school very frequently depends upon the supply available for the village generally and cannot be dealt with by the school authorities as a separate problem. The lack of a supply of drinking water has not in itself been regarded as a reason for including a school in the lists of defective premises.