§ MR. HOBHOUSE (Somerset, E.)I beg to ask the Vice-President of the Committee of Council on Education if he is aware that, in the rural elementary schools of Ireland, agriculture is a compulsory subject for boys in the higher classes; that, in addition to theoretical teaching in the subject given to 85,000 pupils, 48 school farms and 101 school gardens are being used for practical instruction in agriculture; and that a large number of Queen's scholars and National school teachers are trained every year in the Agricultural College at Glasnevin, whereas in England agriculture is only taken as a specific subject by 825 boys, and grants for cottage gardening were only awarded in 1897–8 to 1,021 boys; and if, in view of the fact that it is illegal for local authorities under the Technical Instruction Acts to aid agricultural teaching in elementary schools, he will consider, in conjunction with the President of the Board of Agriculture, what steps can be taken, by a modification of the Code or otherwise, to encourage the study of agricultural subjects in the rural districts of England to the same extent that it is encouraged in Ireland?
§ THE VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL ON EDUCATION (Sir J. GORST,) Cambridge UniversityThere is no reason to doubt that the figures given in the Question are substantially correct. The matter is one which will receive the earnest attention of the Committee of Council.