MR. FIELD (Dublin, St. Patrick)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether, seeing that the members of the Viceregal Commission appointed to inquire into the working of Irish Intermediate Education are also members of the board whose work is the subject of inquiry, and that dissatisfaction exists respecting the work of the Intermediate Education Board, he will increase the members of the Commission by a majority of educational experts and business men who are not members of the Intermediate Education Board?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThe Intermediate Education Board itself approached the Irish Government with a request that it should be constituted a commission of inquiry into the subject of Irish Intermediate Education. I understand that so far from being biased in favour of the system which they administer, they entirely share the general dissatisfaction with which it is regarded. It is not the work of the board, but the system itself, which is to be inquired into, and I do not think sufficient reason exists for adding additional members to the Commission.