MR. MACKINTOSHasked the Vice President of the Council, Whether, in deference to the general feeling which prevails throughout the Gaelic speaking districts of Scotland, he will amend the Scottish Education Code, now upon the Table, by providing that where School Boards may so resolve, the Gaelic lan- 224 guage be recognized, treated, and dealt with as a special subject of instruction?
§ VISCOUNT SANDONSir, provision now exists under a former Code for testing the intelligence of children in districts of Scotland where Gaelic is spoken by requiring them to explain in Standards II. and III. the meaning of the passage read. A somewhat similar provision has been introduced into the Code respecting Welsh in Wales. Beyond this, the Government is not prepared to deal with Gaelic as a special subject of instruction, and, therefore, to give a special grant for it.