§ DR. FARQUHARSON (Aberdeenshire W.)asked the Vice President of the Council for Education, Whether he would lay upon the Table a copy of the Petition for reform in the constitution of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, signed by 6,000 members of the College, and addressed to the Lord President of the Privy Council, together with a copy of the statement and contentions in support thereof made to the Lord President by the deputation of members which waited upon him on November 11, 1887; and whether he would state whether that statement was referred to the President and Council of the College for reply; whether any reply was received; and on what grounds the Privy Council had, in the absence of any reply, and without further communication with the members of the College or their representatives, decided to negative their request for such reform.
§ THE VICE PRESIDENT (SIR WILLIAM HART DYKE) (Kent, Dartford)There will be no objection to lay on the 687 Table a copy of the Petition and statement of the members of the Royal College of Surgeons. The statement was referred to the College, and the receipt acknowledged. The Privy Council subsequently decided to strike out the contentious clauses from the draft Charter, and the College have agreed to accept the supplemental Charter on those terms.