HC Deb 25 February 1908 vol 184 cc1583-4
MR. CROMBIE (Kincardineshire)

I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland whether it is his intention to introduce an Education Bill for Scotland this Session.

The following questions on the same subject were also asked—

MR. SMEATON (Stirlingshire)

To ask the Secretary for Scotland whether he intends to introduce an Education Bill for Scotland during the present Session; and can he say at what stage of the session it will be introduced.

MR. C. E. PRICE (Edinburgh, Central)

To ask the Prime Minister, what Bills it is proposed to send this session to the Scottish Grand Committee; whether he is aware that five Bills dealing with education in Scotland have been introduced to Parliament during the last seven years, and that failure to proceed with these measures has caused inconvenience to educational authorities in that country: and whether he will, under these circumstances, consider the advisability of introducing another Bill dealing with this subject and sending it to the Scottish Grand Committee at an early date.

MR. SINCLAIR

This subject is at present under close consideration. It does not seem advisable to introduce such a Bill unless sufficient Parliamentary time is likely to be available to permit its being considered and passed into law. I hope to be able to make a definite announcement upon the matter before the Easter Recess. In reply to the remainder of the question of my hon. friend the Member for the Central Division of Edinburgh, I need only add that I believe the facts to be as he has stated: that the inconvenience to which he alludes is best met, as I have no doubt he will agree, by the course proposed, and that, as he is aware, the Standing Orders on the subject establish a general rule by which all Scottish Bills go up to the Scottish Grand Committee.

MR. GULLAND (Dumfries Burghs)

Will the right hon. Gentleman take care that an equivalent is given to Scotland for the money allotted to England under the Education Bill?

MR. SINCLAIR

That certainly will be considered.

MR. C. E. PRICE

Am I to accept this as an answer to my question which the Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me to postpone?

MR. SINCLAIR

If you please, Sir.