§ MR. COBB (Warwick, S.E., Rugby)I beg to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education whether he is aware that a strong feeling exists in many parts of the country that it is undesirable that Inspectors of schools should take part in political meetings or entertainments in the districts in which they inspect the schools; and whether the Education Department will, upon such a case being brought under their notice, inform the Inspector that he ought not to attend political meetings in his district?
§ THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (Sir W. HART DYKE, Kent, Dartford)By an Order of the Lord President, dated January, 1880, the official staff of the Education Department were prohibited from taking an active part at political meetings in connection with Parliamentary elections, and I am not aware of any instances in which this rule has been violated.
§ MR. COBBDoes the Order refer to meetings when an election is imminent, or to political meetings generally?
§ SIR W. HART DYKEI should say that it refers generally to attendance at political meetings.