§ MR. JOHNSTON (Belfast, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether, before making any proposition to curtail the grant from the Customs and Excise Duties to the Intermediate Education Board in Ireland, he will take into consideration the fact that the Board's operations have hitherto been circumscribed for want of funds; and whether representations have reached him that any curtailment of the sum placed at the disposal of the Board would seriously injure the cause of higher education in Ireland?
§ Mr. JACKSONI have received a communication on the subject mentioned, but before making any proposal in regard to the grant, it is the intention of the Government to give the whole matter careful consideration.
§ MR. SEXTON (Belfast, W.)May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether since the grant of £40,000 annually was made to the Board in 1890, the 1324 Board have proposed any scheme for the expenditure of their augmented income; and, if not, whether the right hon. Gentleman will request the Board to do so before making any changes in the grant.
§ Mr. JACKSONOh, yes. I think they have prepared a scheme, and I rather think it has been laid before Parliament—some revised regulations, I think—but I am not sure. I do not know whether it is possible to give any figures in reference to the subject.
§ MR. SEXTONI presume that before proposing to use the money for any other purpose than that for which it was designed the right hon. Gentleman will inform the House how much has been spent on intermediate education?
§ Mr. JACKSONAs I have already said the whole question will be taken into consideration.