§ MR. HOBHOUSEI beg to ask the Vice-President of the Committee of Council on Education how many copies of the excellent series of Special Reports on Educational Subjects, issued from his department, are distributed to educationalists in this country; if he is aware that in the United States of America public interest in education has been greatly stimulated by a free distribution of similar reports; and whether, if he cannot promise a free distribution, he will at any rate take steps to lower the price of the volumes, and to make their existence better known to the public.
§ * SIR J. GORSTSeven hundred copies of Volume I. and five hundred of Volumes II. and III. respectively were placed at the disposal of the Education Department for gratuitous distribution. Nearly all these have been distributed in this country. The answer to the second paragraph of the question is in the affirmative. The Committee of Council have no control over the price at which the volumes are sold.
§ MR. HOBHOUSEWhat department will supply them?
§ * SIR J. GORSTThe Stationery Office, which is under the control of my right hon. friend the Secretary to the Treasury.