§ SIR THOMAS LEA: (Londonderry S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lietenant of Ireland, if it is now the intention of the Government to go on with the Irish Education Bill?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURI stated on the introduction of this Bill that it 303 was not the intention of the Government to proceed with it if it should prove contentious. Up to the present no intimation has reached me from hon. Members from Ireland as to the view they take of the Bill; but after the pronouncement of the Roman Catholic Bishops the other day, I can hardly imagine it will be treated as an unopposed Measure. I should still be willing to drop the contentious part of our proposals and proceed with the non-contentious part, if there was a general desire that this course shall be adopted.