§ MR. FFRENCHI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware of the disparity between the grants for primary education in Great Britain and Ireland, taking population as a basis of comparison; whether this has been made the subject of frequent protest by the public bodies in Ireland as well as the managers and teachers; and whether the Government will consider Ireland's claims to equal treatment with reference to primary education as compared with the other portions of the three Kingdoms.
§ MR. BIRRELLThe question raised by the hon. Member cannot be adequately discussed within the limits of an oral answer. I may, however, repeat an announcement recently made by my hon. friend the Secretary to the Treasury, namely, that it is the intention of the Government to provide a substantial increase in the Vote for Public Education, Ireland, for the coming financial year, with the object of improving the salaries of the teachers.