§ CAPTAIN CRAIG (Down, E.)I beg 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 had been given of the 1152 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 new rule at short notice, he will urge its postponement till after the examinations in 1909.
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. BIRRELL,) Bristol, N.The question of deferring the operation of the new rule was discussed by the Intermediate Education Board at their last meeting, and was then postponed for further consideration. I am at present in communication with the Board on the subject, and I hope shortly to be in a position to announce the Board's decision.