HC Deb 21 December 1893 vol 20 cc75-7
MR. JACKSON (Leeds, N.)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether arrangements have been made under which the School Attendance Committees, prescribed by the Irish Education Act of 1892, will come into operation on 1st January next; and, if not, what action the Government propose to take to give effect to the Act?

MR. BRYCE (for Mr. J. Morley)

Of the 118 boroughs, towns, and townships affected by the Irish Education Act of 1892, 93 have signified their willingness to comply with the requirements of the Act. Of these, 89 appointed their half Committees, and approval has been given by the National Education Commission to compliance with their regulations in 82 cases. In 80 cases the Commissioners have before them names of persons deemed suitable for appointment on their own half of Committees. The proceedings, therefore. are well advanced in these cases; and as to the remaining cases, six of which arise from complaints under the Act of 1892, they are still under the consideration of the Government, and I cannot at this moment make any statement as to the course which will be pursued.

Mr. JACKSON

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether in all these cases the children are getting the benefit of free education?

MR. BRYCE

I think I should have notice of that question.

Mr. JACKSON

Well, I will give notice. I wish to ask, do the Government intend without delay to bring in a Bill which I understand is necessary to-remedy some defects in the Act of 1892 in order that the School Attendance Committees may be appointed, and the-Compulsory Clauses enforced throughout the districts to which the Act applies?

MR. BRYCE

I stated to the House on a previous occasion that it was the-wish and the desire of the Government to introduce a Bill to remedy the flaw in. the Act, which has the effect of providing in some cases no means by which the expenses of the School Attendance Committees can be defrayed. That Bill is ready, and would be introduced at once if there was a prospect of passing it this Session as a non-contentious measure. At present there does not seem to be any prospect of that.

MR. JACKSON

Is it due to the notice given by the hon. Member for North Kerry that the Government are-unable to give effect to the Act of 1892?

MR. SEXTON (Kerry, N.)

May I ask whether it is not entirely due to the-failure of the right hon. Gentleman who asks this question to use his influence to-carry out the undertaking that was arrived at? I should like to ask, as the-right hon. Gentleman (Mr. Bryce) has stated that, out of 118 cases, 93 are prepared to appoint Committees, whether, with reference to the remaining 25, have they refused to act, and, if so, are there-any means of compelling them to do so?

MR. BRYCE

Of those that have not complied, I have to say that they are not all in the same position. Some of them have refused to act; some have delayed' in answering, and with regard to others it is not possible at present to see how, owing to the flaw in the Act of 1892, the expenses of the School Committees are to he defrayed. If any further information is desired, questions had better he put on the Paper. As regards the questions raised by my hon. Friend opposite (Mr. Sexton) and the right hon. Gentleman opposite, they appear to belong to matters of controversy which cannot suitably be answered in reply to questions.

Mr. JACKSON

I wish to know whether the Government accept responsibility for giving effect to the Education Act of 1892, and therefore remedying the defect they have discovered in it?

MR. T. M. HEALY

Is it not the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Leeds who is responsible for the blunder in the Act of 1892?

MR. BRYCE

The defect belongs to the Act, and has not arisen out of anything subsequently.

MR. JACKSON

When was it discovered?

MR. BRYCE

Some little time ago. With regard to the questions just put, I have nothing to add to the statement I have already made, except that the Government are ready and willing to introduce a Bill, but that at present they do not see any prospect of passing it as a non-contentious measure.

MR. SEXTON

I wish to give notice that until the condition is observed under which we allowed the Act to pass, and until certain public elementary schools not in connection with the National Board, willing to accept the Conscience Clause, and to satisfy the requirements of the Education Department as to their efficiency in teaching—until these schools are permitted to obtain a fair share of the public grant, we shall regard any further legislation intended to make compulsion effectual as acutely contentious.

MR. JACKSON

I think I am entitled to ask, after that notice, whether the Government will delay bringing in a I Bill until the notice is withdrawn?

MR. BRYCE

I think the House is fully in possession of the facts, and that no further answer is necessary from me.