§ MR. BLUNDELL MAPLE (Camberwell, Dulwich)I beg to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education whether a Memorial (unanimously passed by the London School Board on the 20th March this year) has been received by the Education Department, in favour of the London School Board Elections Bill, which proposes to assimilate the present Electoral Divisions to those used for Parliamentary and County Council Elections; and whether the Education Department can, by Section 37, Sub-section 2, of "The Elementary Education Act, 1870," which gives them power to determine the boundaries of the different Divisions, and the number of members to be elected for each Division to the London School Board, make this necessary change under the present law; and, if not, whether the Vice President will give effect to the Memorial of the London School Board by assisting in the passing of the Loudon School Board Elections Bill, which is down for Second Reading this (Tuesday) evening?
§ THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (Sir W. HART DYKE,) Kent, DartfordI have seen the Memorial referred to. The Education Department have no power by order to assimilate the present Electoral Divisions to those used for Parliamentary and County Council elections. Her Majesty's Government are not prepared to support the hon. Member's Bill, which will have the effect not only of altering the method of voting in the Metropolis, but also of removing the securities which at present exist for the due representation of minorities.