§ MR. HUGH ELLIOT (Ayrshire, K)I beg to ask the Lord Advocate whether he is aware that there are at present tying upon the Table of the House several schemes of the Educational Endowents (Scotland) Commmissioners upon which the judgment of the House will be taken; and whether, having regard to the difficulty experienced by the House of giving such schemes due and impartial consideration, the Government can sec its way to accept the Motion now upon the Notice Paper for referring these schemes, and any other schemes of the Educational Endowments (Scotland) Commissioners which may in future be laid before the House, to a Select Committee?
* ME. J. P. B. ROBERTSONI am aware that certain schemes are now upon the Table of the House. These schemes will, if not disapproved, become ripe for Her Majesty's approval after the time prescribed by the Educational Endowments Act; but it is open to any hon. Member, within the prescribed time, to take the opinion of the House thereon. I conceive that it is open to the House to adopt any means which it may judge expedient for forming an opinion upon the merits of any particular scheme on which it may be asked to judge. But the Government is not aware of anything special in the schemes now before the House which would render it advisable in regard to them to adopt the course now suggested, or to vary the usual course according to which they are discussed by the House itself.