HC Deb 04 February 1881 vol 258 cc163-4
MR. J. G. TALBOT

asked the Vice President of the Council, When he proposes to lay the new Education Code upon the Table of the House?

MR. MUNDELLA

Sir, the Code was laid on the Table last night. It will be found that no changes have been made in it, except in the article relating to half-timers, which has been modified to meet the requirements of the Act of last year. In accordance with the promise made to Parliament last year, we have been carefully considering the Code, with a view to simplifying it and to securing the best educational results in return for the large annual grants made by this House; but owing to the early meeting of Parliament, and to the necessity of laying the Code on the Table within 30 days after its assembling, we have not been able to satisfy ourselves as to some of the important changes we are contemplating. It will be necessary, before submitting them to Parliament, to subject them to the test of experiment, and when we have satisfied ourselves the sanction of the Treasury must be given to such changes as involve an alteration in the mode of calculating annual funds. What, therefore, we hope to do is, later in the Session, to lay on the Table a Minute embodying the changes which we propose to introduce into the Code a year hence. This, we think, will give ample notice to those interested in the conduct and management of schools, and afford to Parliament time for consideration and discussion.