§ MR. J. G. TALBOTasked the Vice President of the Council, Whether his attention has been called to the scanty 559 supply of Industrial Schools throughout the Country; and, whether the Government are prepared to enlarge the powers given by the Industrial Schools Act (1866), so that a "prison authority" may build, as well as contribute to the building of, a certified Industrial School?
§ MR. W. E. FORSTERsaid, in reply, that in common with all who took an interest in the question of education, he had had his attention called to the subject; but he scarcely felt qualified to form an opinion how far there was or was not a scanty supply of industrial schools until he should have an opportunity of comparing the results of the inquiry now being made into the state of education generally throughout the country. Power was given by the Act to school boards to build industrial schools, and they were put in a different position from prison authorities. The Secretary of State for the Home Department, to whom the Question ought to have been put rather than to himself, agreed with him in thinking that it would be impossible to introduce this year any amendment into the Act, so as to give other authorities this power, and that the Government would be in a better position next year, when they knew the actual requirements.