§ MR. BRYCEasked the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education, Whether it is the intention of the Science and Art Department to take steps to carry out the promise to establish a Science and Art School in connection with the East London Museum at Bethnal Green, which was given by the Lords of the Committee of Council on Education, by a letter written at their direction, and dated December 12th, 1870, which appears among the Parliamentary Papers of the Session of 1872?
§ MR.MUNDELLASir, I have looked into the Correspondence to which the hon. Member refers, and I find that there was an understanding 12 years ago that part of the buildings of the Bethnal Green Museum should be devoted to a Science and Art School. But since then the whole of the premises have been required for the purposes of the Museum. The subject was considered by the late Government in 1874 and 1879, and they did not feel themselves justified in establishing such schools on other than the ordinary conditions. I cannot see how we can fairly be called upon to establish and maintain 181 Science and Art Schools at the East End of London on any other conditions than those which are applied to the Provinces.