MR. CARVELL WILLIAMS (Notts, Mansfield)I beg to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education at what date the law relating to public primary education in Guernsey was considered by a Committee of the Privy Council; of whom such Committee was constituted; and whether the proceedings were public or private; and whether the Committee of the ratepayers of St. Peter Port, Guernsey, who prayed to be allowed to submit their objections to the measure before a decision was arrived at, were informed of the intended sitting of the Privy Council Committee, and were afforded an opportunity of maintaining their objections?
§ MR. ACLANDThe project was considered on the 11th December last. The Lord President, the Home Secretary, and myself formed the Committee. The proceedings were not public. The Ratepayers' Committee only asked to be heard if necessary. The Committee of Council, after considering the reply of the States of Guernsey to the statements contained in the Ratepayers' Petition, did not consider it necessary to hear the Petitioners. I can assure my hon. Friend that the whole matter was most carefully considered in all its bearings.
§ MR. BARTLEY (Islington, N.)Is it not a fact that this law was passed by a Home Rule Parliament in the Island? Did those who objected to it have an opportunity of laying their objections befere the proper tribunal in the Island itself?
§ MR. ACLANDI do not know what the hon. Gentleman means by "proper tribunal in the Island itself."
§ MR. BARTLEYThe Parliament of the Island.
§ MR. ACLANDThe whole matter was carefully considered for months by the representatives of the inhabitants. We had only to see if there was any ground on which the law ought to be set aside.
§ MR. BARTLEYDo I understand the Committee of the Privy Council tried to find out a means of setting the law aside?
§ MR. ACLANDNo, Sir.