§ SIR ROBERT CUNLIFFEasked the Vice President of the Council, Whether he is now able to state to what extent the Government are prepared to carry out the recommendations of the Departmental Committee with regard to higher education in Wales?
§ SIR HUSSEY VIVIANasked the Vice President of the Council, Whether any decision has been come to relative to the measures to be adopted for the promotion of Higher and Intermediate Education in Wales.
§ MR. MUNDELLAIn reply, Sir, to the Questions of my hon. Friend and of the hon. Member for Glamorganshire, which are similar, I beg leave to remind the House that the recommendations of the Departmental Commission related to—first, higher grade board schools; secondly, grammar schools; thirdly, Colleges. I am now in a position to state that a Circular will shortly be issued by the Education Department to the school boards of Wales, explaining the facilities which we are prepared to 1542 give for the establishment of these higher elementary schools. The establishment of grammar schools will require legislation. As regards Colleges, I may say that a sum of £2,000, being the first half-yearly payment of £4,000, will be placed on the Estimates for the Aberystwith College this Session, and a sum of £4,000 a-year next year for each of two Colleges, one in North and the other in South Wales. This grant will not be continued beyond the 31st of March, 1884, unless by that time satisfactory progress has been made towards their establishment, and a scheme approved for their management and maintenance. Legislation for the establishment of grammar schools must stand over till next year. Thus two of the three recommendations of the Commission will at once come into practical operation, if the liberality of the Government meets with an adequate response from the inhabitants of the Principality.