§ VISCOUNT CRANBORNE (Rochester)I beg to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education whether a scheme has been made, under the Welsh Intermediate Act, in respect of Berriew School; and whether, as a petition was duly presented against the scheme, in accordance with Section 15 of the Endowed Schools Act, 1873, he 783 will explain why the scheme has not been laid upon the table of the House?
§ MR. ACLANDIn October last, 12 of the 20 petitioners wrote, desiring that their names might be withdrawn from the petition. In these circumstances it was not held that there was any such petition before the Department as would justify them in laying the scheme before Parliament, and it was accordingly submitted to Her Majesty for approval. The course adopted was in accordance with precedent in cases where a petition to lay a scheme before Parliament had been withdrawn. The same course was pursued in the case of the second scheme for Dauntsey's Charity under the late Government. In fact, the Department have always hitherto proceeded on the assumption that no other course was open to them. The procedure was considered so much a matter of course that it was not brought under my notice.
§ VISCOUNT CRANBORNEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the action of the Department in not laying the Scheme on the Table is contrary to the Act of Parliament?
§ MR. ACLANDNot in the view of the legal advisers of the Department, either now or in the course of any former Ministry.
§ VISCOUNT CRANBORNEWhen the right hon. Gentleman speaks of "legal advisers," does he mean the Law Officers of the Crown or the legal advisers of the Department?
§ MR. ACLANDThe legal advisers of the Department.