HC Deb 31 July 1907 vol 179 cc957-8
MR. BUTCHER (Cambridge University)

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Education whether, under the training college Regulations, it will be allowable to interview the candidates for admission to a college; and, if so, what kind of questions, if any, may be put to a candidate at such interview.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION (MR. MCKENNA, Monmouthshire, N.)

The new Regulations for training colleges do not prohibit an interview as distinguished from an examination. But if appeal were made to the Board by a candidate who had been †See (4) Debates, clxx., 977. refused admission to a college, and if it should appear that the candidate had been questioned at an interview as to his religious belief, or as to any other matter which would come within those grounds which under the Regulations will not be deemed "reasonable," the Board would regard this as strong evidence that the refusal of admission had in such a case been made on improper grounds.

LORD R. CECIL (Marylebone, E.)

Is the right hon. Gentleman prepared on behalf of the Board of Education to distinguish between the oral examination and questions at an interview.

MR. McKENNA

If by oral examination the noble Lord means an examination on the educational qualifications of the candidate I think it would be easy to make the distinction.