§ MR. WILLIAM REDMOND) Fermanagh, N.I wish to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he cannot see his way to postpone the consideration of the Irish Local Government Bill in order that the House may at once enter upon the consideration of the Irish Education Bill, a measure desired by all classes in Ireland, and a measure of much more interest to the Irish people than the Local Government Bill now before the House?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI was not aware that there was a unanimous desire on the part of the Irish Representatives for the Education Bill in its present shape. However, I hope that before we take the next stage of the Local Government Bill we shall be able to make substantial progress with the 1449 measure which he desires to see pass into law.
§ MR. WILLIAM REDMONDMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he can give the date, as nearly as possible, when he will take up the Irish Education Bill, and will he also say whether that measure will be gone on with and carried through before the next stage of the Local Government Bill is taken?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURYes.
§ MR. SEXTON (Belfast, W.)May I ask the right hon. Gentleman to give some indication of a more definite character as to the fate of the Education Bill. I wish to ask him whether, assuming that the issue on the Second Reading of the Local Government Bill is determined early next week, what steps are proposed to be taken before Whitsuntide with respect to the Irish Education Bill, and whether he is going to proceed beyond the Second Reading?
§ Mr. A. J. BALFOURI think it very unlikely that we shall be able to proceed beyond the Second Reading before Whitsuntide. We are now approaching the Vote on Account. The Treasury informs me that the Vote should be passed next Thursday, and I am anxious to finish the Report stage of the Small Holdings Bill, in order that it may be sent up to another place.
§ MR. WILLIAM REDMONDI am sorry to trouble the right hon. Gentleman again, but it is a matter of considerable interest to the Irish people to know definitely what are the intentions of the Government with respect to the Education Bill. Is it the intention of the Government to proceed with that measure during the present Session, and to take the Committee stage of that Bill before taking the Committee stage of the Local Government Bill?
MR. PATRICK O'BRIENI should like to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether, since there is a unanimous opinion in favour of the Education Bill, and a unanimous opinion against the Local Government Bill, he will withdraw the latter?
§ MR. SPEAKEROrder! Order!
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI can assure the hon. Gentleman I am most anxious 1450 that the Education Bill shall be proceeded with, and I can give him a pledge that the Committee stage of it will be taken before the Committee stage of the Local Government Bill.
§ MR. SEXTONThen we may assume that the Second Reading of the Education Bill will be taken before Whitsuntide?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI earnestly hope so.
§ MR. LABOUCHEREAre we to gather from the speech of the right hon. Gentleman that he pledges himself to take the Committee stage of the Local Government Bill this Session?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURWhat I said was that we should go through the Committee stage of the Education Bill before we entered upon the Committee stage of the Local Government Bill.
§ SIR W. LAWSONDoes the right hon. Gentleman really mean to take the Committee stage of the Local Government Bill at all?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThat largely depends on the progress of Public Business.