§ Mr. WEIRasked the Lord Advocate whether he is aware that on the 19th January, 1894, the Scottish Education Department issued a circular letter to the school boards in the island of Lewis, signed H. Craik, the then secretary, and stating that their Lordships' attention having been called to the fact that in certain school board districts the children are expected to bring with them to school a daily contribution of peat for the purposes of fuel, it must be understood that any rule requiring such a contribution is not consistent with the regulations under which fees are abolished and the grants in relief of fees are paid; will he state whether this circular has since been rescinded; if not, will he state why children attending the public school schools in the parishes of Barvas, Lochs, and Uig are still expected to carry peats to school as a contribution to the school's fuel supply; and will he say how much was expended for fuel by each of these boards last year?
§ Mr. UREThe circular letter referred to has not been rescinded. I am not aware of any rule coming within the scope of that circular by which children attending the public schools in the parishes mentioned are required to contribute peats to the school's fuel supply. The observance of346W the practice is voluntary on the part of children and parents. No expense for fuel was incurred last year by any of the schools boards concerned.