§ The following Question appeared on the paper—
§ MR. CREMER (Shoreditch, Haggerston)I beg to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education whether he will now lay upon the Table of the House a copy of the circular issued conjointly by the War Office and Education Department; and whether he will state what authority these Departments possess to act in concert in making provision for and ordering that boys shall be instructed in military drill in the public elementary schools, either while they are attending the schools or after they have left.
§ On the Question being called, the hon. Member said: When I handed in the Question I was told by the Clerk at the Table that there was some portion of it 176 that was not admissible. I altered the portion referred to to suit the convenience of the Clerk of the Table. [Order, order!]—well, say requirements—and was then told that the Question was all right. Since then, however, a large portion of it has been lopped off, and I scarcely recognise the Question in the form in which it now appears. I decline to put it in its truncated and emasculated form.
§ * MR. SPEAKERThe recollection of the Clerk at the Table is entirely opposite to that of the hon. Member. I have no doubt there has been some misunderstanding which can be easily explained.