§ Mr. CLOUGHasked the President of the Board of Education whether he has consented to the erection of a new Roman 865W Catholic elementary school at Barnoldswick for the accommodation of 120 children, or of 200 children; whether he is aware that at the moment there are 1,729 school places in Barnoldswick, and that the Board have agreed to a council school for a further 300, making a total of 2,029 places, with 1,717 names on the register; that when the new Roman Catholic elementary school is completed the Roman Catholic children will be withdrawn from the other public elementary schools in that area, and the Grants of £243 now earned by these children in these schools will cease without any reduction in the cost of their maintenance, and the burden upon the rates will thus be increased by £243 per annum; and, if so, will he state what action he proposes to take?
§ Mr. J. A. PEASEOn the 12th August the Board decided under Section 9 of the Education Act, 1902, that the proposed new Roman Catholic public elementary school for about 200 children at Barnoldswick was not unnecessary. The number of school places at present recognised at Barnoldswick is 1,549. On the 10th October the Board informed the local education authority that they considered a council school for about 300 children to be not unnecessary. With regard to the last part of the question, I am unable to say how-much of the Grant paid in respect of the public elementary schools in Barnoldswick is paid on account of children in those schools belonging to the Roman Catholic faith. I have already informed the hon. Member that it is not possible to say whether any reduction in the cost of maintenance of the schools can be effected as a result of the withdrawal of the Roman Catholic children.