§ MR. T. BAYLEY (Derbyshire, Chesterfield)I beg to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education whether, in view of the fact that the Science and Art Department have abolished second-class passes in the elementary stage of all science subjects, and that this action may impede the progress of technical education throughout the country, he will so arrange that the said second-class passes shall be once more granted, or that some efficient alternative scheme shall be arranged by the Science and Art Department?
§ MR. ACLANDSecond-class passes in the elementary stage were abolished, after due notice given, in the time of the late Government, the object of the change being, as explained at the time, the encouragement of more advanced instruction, for which increased payments were offered. I see no reason to believe that this action will in any way impede the progress of sound technical education, while, on the other hand, it will afford a salutary check on a good deal of instruction of a kind which it is not, on the whole, desirable to assist. Under these circumstances, I am afraid I can hold out no hope of the revival of second-class passes, or of an alternative scheme.