§ MR. KNOXhad upon the Paper a Notice to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he had been able to arrange during the Recess for the admission of the Christian Brothers' Schools into the National Education system. The hon. Member said the question had already been answered, but he wished for an explanation of one point in the answer—namely, whether the authority to declare the Schools efficient for the purposes of the Act of 1892 would be the Justices of the Peace, as at present, or the Education Department.
§ MR. T. W. RUSSELL (Tyrone, S.)asked whether, if any fundamental change were proposed in the system of 202 National Education in Ireland, the House would have an opportunity of considering it?
MR. J. MORLEYreplied, that, as he had already said, the last thing he should think of would be to complete this transaction without giving the House an opportunity of expressing an opinion. At the same time, the hon. Member must be aware that the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland had authority to sanction any change. But, as a matter of policy, he (Mr. Morley) thought it would be prudent that the House should be made aware, of changes proposed. He could not answer the hon. Member for Cavan off hand. The whole of the circumstances required consideration.
§ MR. W. L. JACKSON (Leeds, N.)asked when the correspondence on the matter would be laid on the Table?
MR. J. MORLEYsaid that, as he told the leader of the Opposition on the previous day, the correspondence so far was one-sided. He (Mr. Morley) had addressed a communication to the National Board, and it was not desirable to produce any correspondence until he had their answer. He hoped there would be no undue delay in placing the correspondence before the House.