§ SIR EDWARD COLEBROOKEsaid, he wished to ask the Lord Advocate, Whether the Government will lay before Parliament their proposal for the future distribution of the annual Grants for Education in Scotland under the Rules of the Privy Council, or by any other authority, before their Measure relating to the Schools of Scotland is brought before the House?
THE LORD ADVOCATEsaid, in reply, that in the Bill which was before the other House of Parliament there was a Schedule announcing generally the principles upon which the rules of the Privy Council were to be made applicable in Scotland. Until, however, that Bill became law it was impossible that these rules could be finally adjusted, and, therefore, it would be impossible as yet to lay before Parliament the final proposals upon this subject. But as the matter excited a good deal of interest in 1905 Scotland—and it was well that there should be no misunderstanding as to the proposals of the Government in the event of the Bill substantially becoming law—he had to state for the information of the House, that in adjusting the Rules of the Committed of the Privy Council to be applied to Scotland, the Government proposed to adopt the principle of payment for results on the following conditions, which were adapted to the system long established in that country, of supporting schools by local rates, and which would be carried out, provided the system of rating be extended so as to meet the full demands of national education—First, that no distinction should be made in the payments from the Committee of Council in consideration of the class of society to which the parents of children attending school belonged. He believed that, as a general rule, the children of all classes in Scotland mixed freely in the schools. The second condition was that the principle which was partially adopted in the Minute of the late Vice President of the Council (Mr. Corry) should receive a more extended application in Scotland, and that, up to the ago of sixteen, children might be examined on subjects higher than Standard Six of the Revised Code. But, third, that the above Rule relative to the higher branches should be limited to landward parishes; and, fourth, that no payment in respect of higher subjects should be made unless the average number of the scholars attending any school should have reached a specified standard in elementary branches.