HC Deb 17 April 1855 vol 137 cc1503-4
SIR JOHN PAKINGTON

said, in the absence of the noble Lord at the head of the Government, he wished to ask the right hon. Baronet the Home Secretary whether it was the intention of Her Majesty's Government to introduce any measure during the present Session for altering the constitution of the Committee of Council on Education, so as to ensure a direct representation of that department in the House of Commons?

SIR GEORGE GREY

said, he presumed that the object which the right hon. Baronet had in asking the question was in accordance with the opinion which he had expressed on a previous occasion—that the duties which were now performed by the Committee of Council on Education should be transferred to a responsible Minister; that that department of the Government should be represented by a Minister sitting in the House of Lords, and if not in the House of Lords, by a subordinate Minister sitting in that House. He had no doubt that, if such an office was created, the duties would be sufficiently grave and onerous for such a responsible Minister. There were besides education other matters connected with it, such as those appertaining to the department of art and science now under the Board of Trade, which might be included among the duties of such an office. At the time when the Committee of Council on Education was established it was considered better to constitute it as at present, but he was not prepared to affirm that the time was not come when under the altered circumstances a better arrangement might not be made. Without, therefore, expressing a final opinion on the subject, he might say that the question engaged the attention of the Government, but he was not prepared to promise that in the present Session of Parliament any alteration would be proposed.

SIR JOHN PAKINGTON

said, he would now beg to ask the right hon. Gentleman, if he could inform the House when the Secretary of State for the Colonial Department would return to this country?

SIR GEORGE GREY

I believe that the noble Lord will leave Vienna in the course of the present week—at the end of the week; and from the latest information received, I have reason to believe that he will be in England on the 27th or 28th of the present month.