§ MR. KNOXI beg to ask the First-Lord of the Treasury, with reference to his speech on Friday last, whether he will direct Her Majesty's representatives in Austria, Belgium, and Germany to report on the provision made for the university education of Roman Catholics in those countries, with special reference to the constitution of the universities, the amount of their endowments, and the sources from which they have been derived, and the number of persons receiving university education in proportion to the Catholic population?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR,) Manchester, E.I think the subject of the inquiry mentioned by the hon. Member is one of great interest, and I will ask the authorities at the Foreign Office how far Her Majesty's representatives abroad can assist in the matter.
§ MR. LECKY (Dublin University)asked whether the right hon. Gentleman would have any objection to extend the inquiries to other countries in Europe, America, and Australia in which there are large Roman Catholic populations!
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYI cannot imagine that there would be any objection in principle to my hon. friend's proposal. Of course an inquiry in regard to the Colonies would not be conducted through the Foreign Office, but would be made through the Colonial Office.