§ * MR. LEIF JONES (Westmoreland, Appleby)I beg to ask the Prime Minister whether his attention has been drawn to the statement made on behalf of the Board of Education to the effect that the Board desire to see women given a responsible position in the direction of public education, but that the Board cannot give effect to this desire because the remedy lies in the alteration of our Local Government laws; and whether the Government will meet the views of the Board of Education in this matter by giving facilities for the passing into law during the present session of the Local Authorities (Qualification of Women) Bill, which would render women eligible for election on the same terms as men on the local councils which are to be elected in March and November, 1907, and which will become the local education authorities to administer the New Education Act.
§ SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANI do not understand that the Board of Education have ever offered an opinion on the question of associating women with the general work of local government. That would be beyond their province. The Government, however, earnestly desire to see women placed in a position in which they can take their full share in educational administration, and though I cannot give a definite promise of Government facilities at the moment, my hon. friend may rely upon it that we shall keep the matter before us.
§ * MR. LEIF JONESasked the right hon. Gentleman to bear in mind that un- 665 less the alteration could be made this year women would have no place upon the first local authorities elected to administer the new Education Act.
§ SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANsaid he would bear that in mind.