HC Deb 27 January 1902 vol 101 c972
MR. J. P. FARRELL

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, whether the promised inquiry by the Board of Works into the proposed increase in the Estimates for Plan VI.A for building of national schools in Ireland has yet been completed; and, if so, has it received the sanction of the Commissioners of National Education and the Treasury as promised on 27th June last in reply to a similar question; and, if not, what is the cause of the delay.

MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN

The answer to the first paragraph is, yes. The revised scale has not yet been submitted to the Commissioners of Education, who have, however, put forward other proposals for the alteration of rule 73. These are under consideration by the various Departments concerned and the whole subject must be treated together.

MR. J. P. FARRELL

May I point out that this answer is almost on all fours with one given twelve months ago. Will the hon. Gentleman undertake to press on the Department the necessity of dealing finally with this matter?

MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN

I think the hon. Gentlemen is under a misapprehension. If he will refer to the previous answer he will see that quite different circumstances have arisen. A proposal has been brought forward for further alterations in the rules, and these we have had to consider carefully.

MR. J. P. FARRELL

Will the right hon. Gentleman give me a copy of these proposals?

MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN

No, Sir, I do not think I can promise to lay lay them at the present time.