SIR UGHTRED KAY - SHUTTLEWORTHasked the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education, Whether Her Majesty's Government propose to give effect by Minute to the suggestion made by him in the debate on the Motion of the honourable Member for East Gloucestershire; whether there is any intention of passing such a Minute this Session; and, if so, whether it will be laid upon the Table immediately; and, whether an early opportunity will be afforded for the discussion 178 of so important and novel a change in the principles hitherto governing the grants to schools?
§ LORD GEORGE HAMILTONIn speaking upon the debate on the London School Board expenditure I stated that for some time past proposals had been under consideration which, while in no way impairing the efficiency of the public elementary education, would tend to limit the excessive expenditure now incurred by managers of certain schools purporting to be elementary. I did not, and cannot, however, in any way pledge myself to details. I simply indicated the way in which School Boards, if possible, should go. Since then the matter has been under the consideration of the English and Scotch Committees on Education, so that I hope we may be able to mature something in the direction indicated before the close of the Session. Of course, no Minute tending to limit the expenditure of schools can come into effect until the managers of schools have had plenty of time to conform to the conditions contained in it; therefore, in the event of any such Minute being published, there will be ample opportunity afforded for its discussion before it comes into practical operation.
§ MR. W. E. FORSTERIs it intended to introduce the Minute before the Education Estimates are brought on? It is very desirable that we should have the Minute before us when we are considering the Estimates.
§ LORD GEORGE HAMILTONOf course, as soon as Her Majesty's Government have come to a final decision the Minute will be laid upon the Table of the House; but I cannot absolutely undertake to lay it on the Table before the Estimates are taken.