HC Deb 12 June 1899 vol 72 cc901-2
COLONEL M'CALMONT (Antrim, E.)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether powers now conferred on school boards in England could be extended to school attendance committees in Ireland, whereby, in cases where the attendance order of magistrates is not complied with and it has been shown that a child's home surroundings are objectionable, they should be empowered to bring such cases before the magistrates, with the object of having them dealt with under the provisions of the Industrial Schools Act. THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. G. W. BALFOUR, Leeds, Central): There is a good deal to be said in favour of the proposal to which my hon. and gallant friend's question refers. Legislation, however, would be necessary to give effect to it, and I could not undertake to deal with the subject, at all events during the present session.