HC Deb 11 March 1902 vol 104 cc1028-9
DR. MACNAMARA

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, having regard to the fact that the Vote on Account involves an Estimate of £4,500,000 for the Board of Education, any opportunity will be afforded for a discussion on the administration of the Board before the Vote is disposed of.

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

The Irish Members have by arrangement the first place on the Report of the Vote on Account. I do not know how long the discussion they propose to initiate will last, but I cannot hold out much hope to the hon. Gentleman that time will also be found for a discussion on Education.

DR. MACNAMARA

If the Irish discussion takes the whole of Thursday, then there will be no opportunity for discussing this Estimate of four and a half millions!

MR. A. J. BALFOUR

The hon. Gentleman talks as if the four and a half millions were an exceptional matter: I do not think so. I certainly consider that the discussion on Report of the Vote on Account should finish on the evening it is taken.