§ *MR. CHANNING (Northamptonshire, E.)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether his attention has been called to the declarations of labour and co-operative associations throughout the country during the past year in support of the claim of the school boards to maintain the hitherto existing system of instruction in higher grade and science schools, and protesting against any restriction of this instruction, whether by code or minute, as prejudicial to the interests of the children of working men; and whether, in deciding on the proposals of the Bill now promised, His Majesty's Government will give due consideration to these practically universal representations from working-class organisations.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI think the hon. Gentleman had better wait until my right hon. friend has an opportunity of explaining the Bill before he asks for information on the subject.
§ *MR. CHANNINGMy question does not refer to the Bill's provisions. It is whether in drafting it these representations will be considered.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThe hon. Gentleman will understand when he sees that Bill that all these matters have been taken into consideration.
§ DR. MACNAMARAMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he cannot see his way to give school boards an assurance that practices now declared illegal will be dealt with by Parliament this session. Such an assurance would relieve the anxiety very much, I can assure the right hon. Gentleman.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI have stated to the House that it is our hope to be able to introduce the Bill before Whitsuntide, and even if that hope should be disappointed, which I do not think it will be, 78 the Bill certainly will lie, introduced immediately after Whitsuntide.
§ *MR. CHANNINGIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that, if its proposals do not adequately meet the demands of the associations mentioned the Bill will meet with, the most strenuous opposition from this side of the House?