§ DR. MACNAMARA (Camberwell, N.)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he is aware of the fact that at this time of the year the great school boards throughout the country usually make their arrangements for the coming evening school session which commences in September; whether his attention has been called to the fact that in the present instance the school boards find themselves unable to proceed with any prospective plans because of the judgment of the Courts of Queen's Bench and of Appeal known as the Cockerton Judgment; and whether, seeing that the Education Bill now before the House of Commons cannot become law in time to permit of these necessary preliminaries being fixed, the Government will give the school boards an assurance that the auditors of the Local Government Board will be instructed to remit any possible surcharge of any items of expenditure rendered immediately necessary for the carrying on by the school boards of the evening school session of 1901–2 on the lines of the session of 1900–1.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOUR)I think it is true that at this time of the 731 year the great school boards throughout the country make arrangements for the autumn and winter sessions. I believe, however, that it will be quite practicable for them to defer their arrangements until a later time or to make special arrangements.
§ DR. MACNAMARAWhat special arrangements does the right hon. Gentleman refer to?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURIt would be quite practicable to make some arrangements with the local authorities if they like.
§ DR. MACNAMARAIs not that unduly anticipating the successful passage of the Bill?