§ MR. POWELL (Wigan)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether the Government is prepared to give facilities for the passing in this Session of the Bill to exempt public elementary schools from the payment of rates; and whether, if not so prepared, the Government will introduce a Bill in the course of the Session to relieve such schools from the oppressive burden which they now bear in consequence of their liability to the payment of rates?
§ *THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. W. H. SMITH,) Strand, WestminsterI am afraid it is not in my power to promise the facilities which my hon. Friend asks for; but the Session is not so far advanced that he may not hope himself to find an opportunity of pressing a measure which I know finds favour with a very large number of Members. I am not at present able to say what course the Government would take in the event of my hon. Friend's failing to obtain the judgment of the House on his proposals.