§ MR. LYON PLAYFAIRasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, Whether he intends to present to Parliament the report recently made by a Treasury Commission on the state of the Queen's Colleges, and if he proposes during the present Session to bring in any measure to carry out the recommendations of that report?
§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACHThis, Sir, was a Departmental Commission, and the inquiry was mainly of a financial character. Many gentlemen occupying official positions in connection with the Queen's University and its Colleges gave evidence before the Commissioners, and I am by no means sure that it would be fair to these gentlemen to publish their evidence either in extenso or in the Report of the Commission. If that objection can be overcome, I should be glad that the Report should be published, as it is of a very satisfactory nature. I propose to refer such of the recommendations of the Commissioners as are not purely financial to the Senate of the Queen's University; and when the Government have had the advantage of receiving the views of the Senate upon them, I hope we may be able to make some recommendation to the House upon the subject during the present Session. But I do not think that any legislation is likely to be required.