(1)

Mr. Birrell has moved amendments to the fourth clause of the Education Bill, which provide for a ballot, in order to give the parents an opportunity of expressing their wishes on the religious teaching question. No rent is to be paid by the local authorities for schools taken over, if extended facilities for such teaching are granted, but if they are refused owners of the schools may appeal to the Board of Education, and the latter may order extended facilities to be granted, or if it thinks it expedient in special circumstances, it may continue State aid without levying a rate, and the school thus may be freed from popular control, voluntary subscriptions replacing the rates. This form of contracting out is to be limited to five years.