HC Deb 25 April 1892 vol 3 cc1298-9
SIR A. ROLLIT (Islington, S.)

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he is able to state the terms of the Reference to a Royal Commission on the question of University Education in London, and the names of the Commissioners?

MR. BARTLEY (Islington, N.)

had notice also of the following question: To ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he is in a position to announce the names of the Royal Commissioners to whom the question of a teaching University for London (the Gresham University) will be referred?

THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR,) Manchester, E.

In answer to this question and also to the question in the name of the hon. Member for North Islington, I have to say that the terms of Reference to the Commission as received at the Home Office are as follows:— We, taking the premisses into consideration, do authorise the said Commissioners to consider, and if they think fit, to alter, amend, and extend the proposed charter remitted in compliance with an Address of the House of Commons so as to form and report to us a scheme for the establishment under charter of an efficient teaching University for London. These terms, as my hon. Friend will see, are so wide that they will cover all projects which may be thought worthy of consideration for including the existing London University in the scheme. The names of the Commissioners are as follows:—Earl Cowper, K.G. (chairman), Lord Reay, G.C.S.I., G.C.I.E., Bishop Barry, the Right Hon. Sir Lyon Playfair, K.C.B., LL.D., Sir William Scovell Savory, Sir George Murray Humphry, M.D., LL.D., Mr. George G. Ramsay, LL.D., Rev. Canon Browne, B.D., Mr. Henry Sidgwick, Litt.D., Mr. John Scott Burdon Sanderson, M.A., Mr. James Anstie, Q.C., Mr. Ralph Charlton Palmer, and Mr. Gerald Henry Rendall, M.A.

DR. FARQUHARSON (Aberdeen, W.)

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman why the representation of the medical profession is restricted to the Surgical side of the profession, and whether he will take into consideration the desirability of adding a physician in active practice as representing the general body of medical practitioners in the United Kingdom?

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

I will inquire from my noble Friend with whom the responsibility rests of submitting the list to Her Majesty. I will submit the suggestion of the hon. Member, but I rather think that a difficulty will be found in increasing the number of Commissioners, already considerable. I believe I am right in saying that Sir George Humphry is not merely a surgeon—he is a doctor of medicine.

DR. FARQUHARSON

I rather think that it is exclusively in connection with the surgical profession he has made his reputation.