§ CAPTAIN CRAIG (Down, E.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been drawn to new rules recently and unexpectedly issued by the Intermediate Board of Education in Ireland prohibiting pupils who had passed in any grade from examination in the same grade again, no matter whether qualified by age or not; whether he is aware that if proper notice 741 had been given to the Board's intention many pupils would have waited longer before attempting the examination in order to compete for scholarships; and whether, in view of the hardship inflicted by the introduction of the now rule at short notice, he will urge its postponement till after the examinations in 1909.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Board of Intermediate Education have decided to submit a new rule which will have the effect of suspending, until after next year's examinations, the operation of Rule 14b in all grades except the preparatory grade. The new rule will be laid upon the Table of the House in due course.