§ MR. RAMSAYasked the Vice President of the Council, Whether a meeting of the Scotch Education Department has yet been held to consider a Report of the Endowed Institutions Commissioners, made by them in 1880, in terms of the 11th section of "The Endowed 1928 Institutions (Scotland) Act, 1878;" and, if so, the names of those members of the Department who attended such meeting; and, whether any of the alterations recommended in that report for the purpose of promoting education in the higher branches of knowledge in public schools are to be carried out; and, if not, the reasons for the rejection or delay of those alterations?
§ MR. MUNDELLASir, the Report of the Commission referred to, which was laid upon the Table last Session, has received the careful consideration of the Lord President and myself, and was the subject of a Circular to the Parish School Boards of Scotland last year. It has not yet been considered by the Committee of Council for Scotland; but it will be very shortly. The reasons why its recommendations have not been embodied in the Scotch Code of the present year are that they involve increased Parliamentary grants for higher education, and we think it desirable to secure the passing of the Endowed Institutions (Scotland) Bill before applying to the Treasury for further aid. I stated in reply to several hon. Members last Session, that we proposed to deal with the reform of the English Code this year; and to deal with the Scotch Code as a whole later on, rather than make partial changes, which are always to be deprecated when they can possibly be avoided. I can assure my hon. Friend that we are anxious that Scotland shall receive the full benefit of the recommendations of the Commission at the earliest possible opportunity.