§ DR. MACNAMARA (Camberwell, N.)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether his attention has been called to the fact that the London School, Board, at its meeting yesterday, resolved to abandon any further appeal against the Cockerton judgment; and whether, this being so, he is prepared now to state what the Government's intentions are in respect of the situation created by that judgment.
§ The following questions also appeared on the Paper:—
§ MR. CHANNING (Northamptonshire, E.)To ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, seeing that the London School Board has decided not to appeal to the House of Lords on the Cockerton case, His Majesty's Government will now 1457 proceed, by a short Bill and by an amendment of the Minute of April, 1900, to egalise the higher education given by school boards in higher grade and science schools, and the admission of adults to evening continuation schools under school boards.
§ SIR ALBERT ROLLIT (Islington, S.)To ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether it is intended to introduce an Education Bill this session; and, if so, will this be done before or after Whitsuntide, and in which House of Parliament.
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR,) Manchester, E.I will answer all the questions with regard to the Education Bill at the same time. We propose to introduce such a Bill in this House, probably before Whitsuntide, but as to that I cannot give any assurance.
§ DR. MACNAMARACan the right hon. Gentleman give us a definite assurance by the end of next week? The matter is one of grave importance.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURNo, Sir. I do not know that I can do that. I have informed the hon. Gentleman that the Government intend to introduce a Bill on this subject.
§ DR. MACNAMARAMay I point out that my question deals with the fact that the School Board for London has abandoned its appeal in respect to the Cockerton judgment, and may I ask the First Lord whether the Bill will cover the points raised by that judgment?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI think the hon. Gentleman had better wait until the Bill is introduced.
§ MR. LOUGH (Islington, W.)May I ask whether, apart from the Bill, any steps will be taken to deal with the schools affected by this judgment?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThe necessity for dealing with anything outside the Bill evidently cannot be considered with advantage by the House until they seethe Bill.
§ MR. WHITLEYMay I ask the Leader of the House if it is not a fact that the Bill promised by the Government is to deal with secondary education, and that the difficulty which has arisen is a very serious one—
§ * MR. SPEAKEROrder, order! The hon. Member is now entering upon a discussion of the right hon. Gentleman's answer.
§ CAPTAIN NORTONMay I ask whether some steps will be taken to enable those children who are taking advantage now of the higher education under the School Board to continue it, irrespective of whatever the Bill may do?
§ * MR. SPEAKERThe hon. Member is asking a question as to what is proposed to be done by the Bill. The right hon. Gentleman has already stated that the House had better wait until the Bill is introduced.
§ CAPTAIN NORTONNo, Sir. I wish to ask the right hon. Gentleman not anything arising out of the Bill, but whether some steps will be taken to prevent those children who are now attending the schools being struck off those schools in October, prior to the passage of the Bill.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI hope that the 1st October will not be prior to the passing of the Bill. I shall be very much surprised if it is. I have already indicated to the House in answer to questions dealing with the Cockerton judgment that the Government intend to introduce an Education Bill. I should have thought that that general statement would be sufficient for hon. Members until they see the details of the Bill.