HC Deb 22 February 1889 vol 333 cc117-8
VISCOUNT CRANBORNE (Lancashire, Darwen)

asked the Vice President of the Council on Education, On what day he expects to lay the Education Code upon the Table of the House?

THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (Sir W. HART DYKE,) Kent, Dartford

My noble Friend is aware that I am obliged by the Act to lay it on the Table of the House within one month of the meeting of Parliament. He will also remember that I have before intimated that I have already promised to produce the Code in a complete form, and to give the House at least six weeks for its consideration. I am unable to inform the noble Lord what precise day it will be laid on the Table.

MR. MUNDELLA (Sheffield, Brightside)

Arising out of the Question of the noble Lord, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he will be prepared to give the House ample time for the consideration of the Code, because there has never yet been an important revision of the Code which has not occupied six months rather than six weeks in consideration. The last Code was laid on the Table in the month of August, and it did not become law until March or April in the following year.

SIR W. HART DYKE

I should not like to give an answer upon that point off-hand. Of course I am anxious to do nothing that would be considered unfair. Adequate time will certainly be given.