§ MR. J. G. TALBOT (for Viscount SANDON)asked the Vice President of the Council, Whether, considering the very grave additional inconvenience which will be caused to all the schools of the Country by a long uncertainty as to the financial effects of the proposals for the revision of the Code, which in themselves must seriously unsettle for many months to come every school, and the desirability that both those who are responsible for the maintenance of the schools and the teachers of the schools should have ample time for their consideration, he will make public during the autumn the rate at which each item of the grant will be assessed; whether he will publish a fresh edition of the proposals for a revised Code, showing, by Italics, which portions of the Code are old and which are new; and, whether, considering that all alterations in the Code, on account of their wide spreading financial effects, are obliged to be made by the Education Department in concert with the Treasury, he can inform the House at once, or before the close of the Session, whether the effect of the revision of the Code is estimated to lead, in any sensible degree, either to an increase or diminution of the general Vote for Public Elementary Education?
§ MR. MUNDELLASir, I cannot see how any inconvenience can arise to anybody from the proposals which I have laid on the Table. I have received numerous communications on the subject from managers and teachers, all more or less approving them, and not one expressing the apprehensions indicated in the Question. The changes proposed to be made in the Code, whether educational or financial, will appear in the Code of 1882, but will not take effect at once, or until ample time has been given for their consideration and approval by Parliament. These changes will be indicated in the usual manner, as prescribed by the Code itself. I have already stated, and it is distinctly set forth in Article 3 of our proposals, that the average rate of aid will be maintained, and I do not anticipate that 1725 the general Vote for Public Elementary Education will be affected by the changes we have proposed, except so far as they may reduce the cost of inspection and administration.
§ LORD RANDOLPH CHURCHILLasked the right hon. Gentleman whether there were any means of obtaining printed Papers setting forth the changes proposed to be made in the Code?
§ MR. MUNDELLAThe proposed changes are in the hands of the printers, and shortly the Papers will be distributed to Members of Parliament.