§ MR. WATKIN WILLIAMSasked Mr. Attorney General, Whether, having regard to the decision of the Court of Appeal in the case of Hertford College, the Government are willing to bring in or support a Bill to amend "The University Tests Act, 1871," by extending its provisions to endowed offices founded since the passing of the Act, and also to future endowments?
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Sir JOHN HOLKER), in reply, said, that it was not the intention of the Government either to introduce or support any such Bill as that referred to. He might add, that a Bill containing provisions similar to those which were to be found in the University Tests Act, 1871, had been introduced into Parliament in 1870, and when that Bill was before Parliament, on two occasions there were Motions to the effect that the provisions of the Bill should be made to extend to future endowments. One of these proposals was negatived without a division, and the other was negatived on a division by a large majority. Upon the discussion of the Motion thus negatived, the right hon. Gentleman now the Member for Greenwich (Mr. Gladstone) said—
We cannot consent to interfere with the future freedom of persons who may wish to found institutions of this kind;And, further—Our desire is to encourage the foundation of Colleges, and we will not inquire whether they are to be denominational Colleges or not; we claim nothing for them less than absolute freedom."—[3 Hansard, ccii. 1395.]