§ SIR EDWARD STRACHEY (Somersetshire, S.)asked for leave to move the adjournment of the House in order to discuss a definite matter of urgent public importance—namely, "the heavy additional charge which will fall on the local rates if the alterations made in the grant for public elementary education by Article 31 of the new Code for the regulation of public elementary schools are allowed to come into force as they are now proposed."
§ *MR. SPEAKERThe hon. Member was good enough to show me his proposal. At first understood that the Article was I coming into force on the 13th of this month, and that it would be too late to bring the matter under the notice of the Government unless there was a discussion I before that date. I understand now that it does not come into force until I 1st August, and that the Secretary to the Board of Education has undertaken that there will be an opportunity of discussing it on the Estimates. In these circumstances cannot say now that this is a matter of urgent public importance. It seems to me a matter which would fall under a general discussion of educational policy.
§ SIR EDWARD STRACHEYMy point is that there will be no opportunity of discussing the matter under Section 97 of the Act of 1870, under which the Code has to he for forty days on the Table of the House.
§ *MR. SPEAKERThat is merely a question of the operation of the Twelve O'clock Rule. In this particular case a Motion for an Address to the Crown could not be taken after midnight if objected to, but that does not affect urgency.