§ DR. MACNAMARAI beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury when the Inter-Departmental Committee, announced 652 by the late Prime Minister in August last as about to be appointed for the purpose of examining the incidence of the education rate, especially with reference to the heavily-rated necessitous areas, first met; how many meetings it has held; when it last met; when it will meet again; and when its Report may be expected.
§ SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANThe Committee was appointed on the 17th October last and held its first meeting on the 20th of that month. It has not taken any oral evidence, but has called for Returns from the local education authorities, which have, however, not yet been completely furnished. I understand that the Committee propose to submit in the course of the next few weeks an interim Report embodying the information received.