§ MR. HOWARD VINCENT (Sheffield, Central)asked the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education, If the definition of the Technical Instruction Bill is clearly understood to embrace commercial instruction; and if 661 it will be undoubtedly open to Local Authorities to provide educational facilities under the provisions of the Bill for the study of foreign languages, commercial correspondence, advanced book-keeping, the principles of banking, exchange, discount, Customs, and Mercantile Law, and to obtain grants for proficiency in such subjects as for knowledge of handicrafts, and the science of local trades?
§ THE VICE PRESIDENT (Sir WILLIAM HART DYKE) (Kent, Dartford)I have only to repeat the answer already given to similar Questions, that it is intended to give freedom to localities as to choice of curriculum, subject to the approval of the Science and Art Department, and, of course, as regards grants, subject to any arrangement that may be made between that Department and the Treasury.
§ MR. STANLEY LEIGHTON (Shropshire, Oswestry)wished to know whether the definition of technical instruction would exclude manual instruction in the use of tools?
§ SIR WILLIAM HART DYKEDoes the hon. Gentleman refer to the definition in the Bill?
§ MR. STANLEY LEIGHTONsaid, there was no definition in the Bill. There was a book, however, of 200 pages, called The Science and Art Directory, and he wished to know whether in that directory technical instruction in the use of tools would be excluded from the sciences and arts which would receive grants?
§ SIR WILLIAM HART DYKEsaid, that was a question for the future. At present grants were not given to manual instruction.