§ MR. SPICER (Monmouth, &c.)I beg to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education whether, in view of the wish expressed at the recent Druids' Conference at Newport that they should be allowed to hold their meetings at Board schools instead of being compelled to hold them at public-houses, the Education Department would issue a Circular to the managers of all elementary schools receiving public grants, urging that facilities should be rendered in the direction indicated to all Friendly Societies, provided, of course, such meetings do not interfere with the ordinary uses of school buildings?
§ MR. ACLANDI think it is very desirable that, where it can be conveniently arranged, schoolrooms should be lent to Friendly Societies for their meetings, so that they need not be obliged to go to public-houses. I do not feel that it is necessary to issue a Circular on this matter at the present moment; but I hope it will not be long before we may be able to carry a Bill providing for meetings of various kinds in those schools receiving a Parliamentary grant.