§ MR. RICHARDasked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether there is any objection to refer the Bill prepared by the Government, for Intermediate and Higher Education in Wales, to a large Committee of Welsh Members, after the manner suggested by him of dealing with the Scotch Educational Endowments Bill and the Agricultural Holdings Bills?
MR. GLADSTONESir, I must inform my hon. Friend that the Bill relating to intermediate education in Wales is not so far advanced as he seems to suppose. The Bill is based upon the double idea of local rating and public grant. So far as the machinery for local rating is concerned, there is no reason why the Bill should not be now introduced, and, if introduced, referred to a large Committee. I am bound to say, however, that I do not think the 73 House will be disposed to accede to the appointment of an exclusively Welsh Committee, although, no doubt, on such a Committee Wales would be largely represented. The measure, however, is not sufficiently advanced to deal with it as a whole, and therefore the Bill could not be introduced. The Bill is only prepared so far as regards the machinery of local rating.