§ MR. BLACKI beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether his attention has been called to the difficulties which are attending the enforcement of the education rate in England; whether any such difficulties have ever been experienced in Scotland; and, if not, whether the Government will now take steps to assimilate the law in England to the law in Scotland.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURAs one of the chief objections felt by Nonconformists to the English Bill of 1902 arose out of the fact that, in their opinion, the rates are devoted to teaching denominational religion, and as that is the habitual practice in Scotland——
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThat is a second objection. The first objection is that the rates are used to give denominational teaching. That is the Scottish system, which is objected to in England, and therefore I presume no peace would be attained by introducing the Scottish system into this country.
§ MR. BLACKWill the right hon. Gentleman give the Nonconformists an opportunity of considering the question and think the matter over for himself?
§ DR. MACNAMARAUnder the Scottish system is education not entirely under public control?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURYes, there are a great many differences between the Scottish and English systems. But I was making allusion to one difference which is relevant to the Question of the hon. Member, not to other differences which are irrelevant.
§ *MR. ALFRED DAVIES (Carmarthen Boroughs)Is it not the fact that the objection of Nonconformists is to paying for the cost of education not under public control?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI understand that is an objection.
§ *MR. ALFRED DAVIESIs it not the main objection?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURWell, I think it is not the main objection. The hon. Member has told us so. He is a passive resister. The reason that passive resistance is popular among the hon. Gentleman's friends is that they have a conscientions objection to the teaching of denominational religion with which they disagree.
§ *MR. ALFRED DAVIESMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman again whether it is not the fact that Nonconformists object to paying rates because there is not complete public control.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThat may be the only objection of the hon. Gentleman, and in that case he is willing to support any plan for allowing the ratepayers of the country to teach denominational religion in board schools; but in that he is not in harmony with the great body of Nonconformist opinion.
§ *MR. ALFRED DAVIESrose again.
§ MR. SPEAKEROrder, order! I cannot allow an education debate.