HC Deb 30 April 1908 vol 187 cc1413-4
MR. LYTTELTON (St. George's, Hanover Square)

I beg to ask the Prime Minister if the pledges with regard to the education question given by the President of the Board of Trade to his late constituents at Manchester represent the views of His Majesty's Government; and, if so, whether they intend to proceed with the Education Bill now before the House.

THE PRIME MINISTER AND FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. ASQUITH,) Fife, E

The statements on this subject, so far as I know, made by the President of the Board of Trade at Manchester, merely repeated in his own language opinions expressed on previous occasions by other members of the Government, and there is nothing in them which would prevent the Government from proceeding with the Education Bill. The Second Reading stage of it will be taken in due course.

MR. WALTER LONG (Dublin, S.)

May I ask whether in the constitution of the new Cabinet there has been a rearrangement of the old rule that any statement made by a Cabinet Minister on behalf of his colleagues is binding on the whole Cabinet?

MR. ASQUITH

With all respect to the right hon. Gentleman, I do not see how that Question arises out of the Answer. I said that the statement made by the President of the Board of Trade merely repeated in his own language opinions expressed on previous occasions—

MR. WALTER LONG

In his own language?

MR. ASQUITH

May not he choose his own language?

MR. STANLEY WILSON

Is it not a fact that the President of the Board of Education went to Dewsbury with a message of peace, and was the Education Bill that message of peace?

SIR PHILIP MAGNUS (London University)

Can the Prime Minister fix a date now for the Second Reading of the Education Bill?

MR. R. DUNCAN (Lanarkshire, Govan)

Who expressed the opinions to which the Prime Minister referred?

MR. ASQUITH

Various members of the Government; among others, my noble friend Lord Crewe.