§ MR. HINDLEYasked the First Lord of the Treasury when it was likely that the reports of the inspectors would be laid before the House? Whether it were desirable to proceed with the debate on the miscellaneous estimates as regarded Education without those reports? And thirdly, whether what he had seen in the public journals was correct, that the noble Lord had intimated to some persons that the vote of this year would be applied in strict conformity with former practice, and would not be laid out in accordance with the Minute of Education?
LORD J. RUSSELL, in answer to the first question, said, that the reports of the inspectors were not yet ready; but as soon as they were, they should be presented. As to the second question, he replied that he did not think it necessary to wait for those reports, in order to enable the House to decide whether it would consent to a vote of money according to the proposal of Government. On the third question, he had to state that if the money to be asked for were granted, it would be laid out according to the former rule, and according to the Minute of December, 1846. He did not know what authority the hon. Member had for the statement he had made; but he (Lord J. Russell) had never said anything of the kind. He had taken care that detailed estimates should be furnished by the Secretary of the Committee of Privy Council similar to those given on former occasions on votes for Education in Ireland, in order to enable the House to see what would be the course of expenditure. The sum would be 100,000l., exactly the same as was asked for last year.