§ SIR JOHN RANDLES (Cumberland, Cockermouth)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland how many representatives of the Methodist Church will be members of the Senates of the proposed Universities; and will he secure that the Methodist Church shall be adequately represented thereon.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) Though I have no knowledge of the fact, I am informed that two of the persons whom it is contemplated to nominate to the first Senate of the University to have its seat in Belfast are members of the Methodist Church. None of the persons suggested for membership of the first Senate of the University to have its seat in Dublin are members of that Church. I think that the provisions of the Bill will secure that students who belong to the Methodist Church or to any other Church are eligible for all the advantages of the proposed Universities and Colleges, and I see no reason for adding to the Senate in the manner suggested.
§ SIR JOHN RANDLESTo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the Committee of the Methodist Church in Ireland are of opinion that the privileges which the Methodist Church has enjoyed in connection with the Royal University appear to be curtailed by his Bill; and will he give consideration to their representations with a view to removing what they regard as hardship and injustice.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) I have received from the Committee on public questions, rights, and privileges, of the Methodist Church in Ireland a series of resolutions, one of which represents that the privileges which the Methodist Church has enjoyed in connection with the Royal University appear to be curtailed by the Irish Universities Bill. I am not aware of any privileges enjoyed by the Methodist Church in the Royal University, nor 1628 do the representations which have reached me indicate how the changes which are proposed will specially affect the members of the Methodist Church.