§ MR. COBB (Warwick, S.E., Rugby)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture whether the Board of Agriculture have yet formulated the complete scheme for the development of agricultural education, according to the intimation which he gave to the hon. Member for the Rugby Division in February last; whether it is intended to increase the grant of £5,000 for such education; and when the Government propose to carry out the recommendation of the Royal Commission on Agricultural and Dairy Schools that a central normal school of agriculture should be established in the neighbourhood of Rugby?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE (Mr. CHAPLIN, Lincolnshire, Sleaford)The subject of agricultural education is dealt with by a number of different authorities, and I have found it impossible, under the circumstances, to formulate at present 342 any scheme, which could be described with accuracy as complete, for the development of agricultural education, which must, in any case, be gradual. I am prepared, however, on the proper occasion, to make proposals which will entail some addition to the existing grant, and to which I hope to obtain the consent of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer. I do not, I may add, contemplate the establishment of a central normal school of agriculture maintained and equipped by the State, at all events at present.
§ MR. HERBERT GARDNER (Essex, Saffron Walden)What will be the amount of the addition?
§ MR. CHAPLINI said some addition.