HC Deb 02 March 1908 vol 185 cc341-2
MR. RAMSAY MACDONALD

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Education, if he proposes to appoint a Royal Commission to inquire into the constitution of the University of London, with a view to the University taking over the Imperial School of Science and Technology, or whether, in the event of no such Commission being appointed and the school being in consequence maintained as a separate foundation, he will reconsider the constitution of the governing body of the school so as to strengthen it on its industrial side with a view to establishing a connection between it and technological institutions of lower grades.

MR. MCKENNA

No representations have reached me from the bodies principally concerned leading me to suppose that the consideration of this question is urgently desired, and I think it would be premature to go into the matters referred to by the hon. Member on the supposition that no such Commission will be appointed.

SIR PHILIP MAGNUS (London University)

Is it proposed not to appoint a Royal Commission until representations are made by the bodies concerned?

MR. MCKENNA

Yes, Sir; the original undertaking was that, upon representations being made to the Board of Education by the bodies concerned, His Majesty would be petitioned to appoint a Commission.

SIR PHILIP MAGNUS

What is the authority for that statement? May I remind the right hon. Gentleman that that there is nothing in the charter of incorporation of the Royal College of Science relating to representations.

MR. MCKENNA

I think if the hon. Gentleman will look at the charter he will find that reference to the possible appointment of a Commission is made.

MR. RAMSAY MACDONALD

With regard to the latter part of my Question, if the London University should not move, does the Board of Education propose to leave the constitution of the Imperial School of Science and Technology in its present position?

MR. MCKENNA

What I said was that it would be premature to go into that matter on the supposition that no such Commission will be appointed. I cannot undertake at this moment to say what will happen if this Commission is not appointed.