§ SIR W. J. COLLINSI beg to ask the President of the Board of Education whether he can now state what action he proposes to take on the Report of the Departmental Committee on the Royal College of Science, &c.; and whether any reorganisation of the University of London is contemplated, with a view to the association with it of the proposed Technological College.
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION (Mr. LOUGH, Islington, W., for Mr. BIRRELL)The Board are at present engaged in the preparation of a scheme for the establishment of a new institution on lines corresponding as closely as possible to those recommended by the Departmental Committee. The Board agree with that Committee in regarding it as of first importance that there should be no delay in the organisation of the institution, and with the recommendation of the Committee that its relation to the University of London should, in the first instance, be that of a "school of the University "—a recommendation in which the senate of the University have informed the Board that they concur. In considering the constitution of the new institution, the Board have had under consideration the suggestion of the Departmental Committee (No. 94, page 27) that without delaying the 777 commencement of the new institution's work, a Royal Commission should be appointed to consider whether changes could advisedly be made in the character and constitution of the University which might make it desirable and possible to amalgamate the two institutions. They have also had before them the Resolution of the senate of the University deprecating the appointment of such a Royal Commission within so short a period after the reorganisation of the University, and expressing the desire that opportunity should be afforded for conference between the Board and the senate as to any changes of the kind suggested. In the course of the conference, which took place on March 9th, between the Board of Education and a deputation from the University senate upon these matters, the suggestions thrown out by the University deputation seemed to be contingent, practically, upon the incorporation of the new institution within the University. As this would necessitate a prolonged delay in the starting of the institution, which the Committee specially recommended should be avoided, the Board have found it impracticable to proceed on those lines, but are hastening as much as possible the preparation of a draft charter on the lines of the report of the Departmental Committee.
§ SIR W. J. COLLINSWill an opportunity be afforded for further communications on the subject with the University of London?
§ * SIR PHILIP MAGNUS (London University)Will the senate of the University of London have an opportunity of considering the scheme or draft charter before it is finally adopted by the Board of Education?