HC Deb 22 February 1881 vol 258 cc1520-1
MR. FIRTH

asked the Vice President of the Council, Whether his attention has been drawn to complaint recently made against the Education Department as to a reduction in the facilities hitherto afforded in Jermyn Street and South Kensington for the working classes attending the lectures there on chemistry, natural history, and mineralogy; and, whether he is prepared to provide such facilities as will enable as many of the public as wish to attend adequate opportunities for doing so?

MR. MUNDELLA

Sir, the attention of the Education Department had not been called to the subject of the hon. Member's Question till a letter appeared in The Times last week. The course of lectures specially referred to in that letter will be delivered at Jermyn Street as usual. We have no intention what-over to reduce the facilities hitherto afforded for the attendance of the working classes at lectures on scientific subjects; but in some cases whore the apparatus by which the lectures are illustrated is delicate or difficult of transport it may be necessary that the lectures should continue, as during some years past, to be given at South Kensington, where the use of the large theatre will enable accommodation to be supplied for as large an audience as in Jermyn Street.