§ MR. J. MACVEAGHTo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state in how many cases did Mr. J. Keith, inspector of national schools, Belfast district, lower the prestige of schools by giving reports during his first year in that district inferior to those given by his predecessor; and in how many such cases had the two preceding reports given by his predecessor or predecessors been such that if Mr. Keith had given a similar Report the teachers would have been entitled to promotion.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Commissioners of National Education consider 1245 that it would be against the interests of the public service, and detrimental to the efficiency of their inspection staff, to make any statement with regard to questions of this character.