HC Deb 10 April 1888 vol 324 cc866-7
DR. CAMERON (Glasgow, College)

asked the Lord Advocate, If he would explain why the Scottish Education Department has restricted the conditions under which grants for cookery will be paid in Scotland under Article 21 of the New Code; whether this restriction will decrease the amount of the grant for cookery paid to Scotland, while it will remain unchanged in England, where no restriction is proposed; and, whether the Department has received any representations from school boards or teachers of cookery in Scotland as to the probable effect of Article 21 of the New Scottish Code in curtailing instruction in cookery in public schools?

THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. J. H. A. MACDONALD) (Edinburgh and St. Andrew's Universities)

The alteration in Article 21, restricting the class in which girls are taught to cook with their own hands to 12 scholars, was introduced into the Code of 1888 upon strong representations made by the cookery schools of Edinburgh and Glasgow, and the School Board of Edinburgh, that no greater number could be efficiently trained in the practical class by one teacher. The Department expects that the result of the alterations in the Article will be to increase the total amount of grant earned throughout Scotland, as well as to improve the efficiency of the training; particularly as another alteration has been made, by which a 2s. grant will be given for a cooking course limited to 24 instead of 40 hours. No representations have reached the Department as to the supposed probability of Article 21 of the Code of 1888 tending to curtail instruction in cookery in public schools, and it is not thought that this will be the result.

MR. SINCLAIR (Falkirk, &c.)

, arising out of the Question, asked whether in those cases where classes had been formed under the Regulations and Rules of the Codes for last year, where the year of the school had not yet expired, the grant to be given would be given in accordance with the Regulations of the Code of last year, or in accordance with those in the Code for the present year?

MR. J. H. A. MACDONALD

I am unable to answer the Question of the hon. Member.

DR. CAMERON

In connection with that Question, would the First Lord of the Treasury say, whether an opportunity will be given for discussing the Code?

THE FIRST LORD (Mr. W. H. SMITH) (Strand, Westminster)

I answered a Question on this matter before the holidays, and then said that the Government would afford an opportunity under the Rules of the House before the date which was mentioned, and the hon. Gentleman is aware that a Motion can be made at any time after 12 o'clock.