HC Deb 12 March 1891 vol 351 cc858-60

As amended, considered.

MR. HOBHOUSE (Somerset, E.)

I beg to move after Clause 1, the insertion of the following new clause— (Construction of 53 and 54 Vic. c. 60, s. 1.) The expression 'technical education' in Section 1 of The Local Taxation (Customs and Excise) Act, 1890,' shall be deemed to include both technical and manual instruction within the meaning of the Technical Instruction Acts, 1889 and 1891. The only object of this clause is to make it quite clear that the County Councils may utilise the money they obtain under the Excise Act of last year for manual instruction as well as other forms of technical instruction. Owing to the difference in the wording of the two Acts, some doubt exists in the country on the subject, and I hope therefore my proposal may be accepted.

*THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (Sir W. HART DYKE,) Kent, Dartford

I am very doubtful as to the necessity of inserting this clause. I see that the intention of my hon. Friend is to provide that this measure and the Act of 1889 shall be construed together. If, however, my hon. Friend refers to the Act of last year he will find that the residue of the money is to be applied within the meaning of the Technical Instruction Act of 1889, and if he refers to the Definition Clause of the Act of 1889 he will find that it covers manual as well as other technical instruction. At the same time as my hon. Friend assures the House that there is real doubt in the minds of members of County Councils—and nearly every County Council has appointed a committee to deal with the question of technical education, and as the clause is perfectly harmless, I will not oppose it.

MR. HOBHOUSE

A doubt has arisen in the country owing to the fact that in the Act of 1889 there are separate definitions of technical and manual instruction, whereas in the Act of last year there is only the expression "technical education," without any definition.

Clause read a second time and added.

MR. A. DYKE ACLAND (York, W.R., Rotherham)

I have to move the following new clause at the end of Clause 1—

Appropriation of Moneys towards Technical Instruction.

"Where a Council shall have referred to a Committee the question of appropriating to purposes of technical instruction any sum consisting of the whole or any part of such moneys, this section shall, until the Committee shall have made their Report and the Council shall have arrived at a decision thereon, apply to such sum as if the same had been directed by the Council to he appropriated to such purposes."

MR. TOMLINSON (Preston)

I am not quite sure the word section ought to be used in this way.

MR. A. ACLAND

The words follow on those carried the other night, and they have been approved by the President of the Local Government Board.

Clause read a second time and added.

MR. HOBHOUSE

I also move that at the end of Clause 2 the following words be inserted:— And shall be construed as one with the Technical Instruction Act, 1889.

Amendment agreed to.

Bill read the third time, and passed.