HC Deb 30 August 1909 vol 10 cc5-6
Sir HENRY CRAIK

asked the President of the Board of Education whether and when the Memorandum on Physical Training in Schools, which has apparently been supplied to newspapers, will be laid upon the Table of the House, and will be available to Members of the House?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

It is proposed to issue this Memorandum as a Stationery Office publication, and not as a Parliamentary Paper. Owing to difficulties in connection with the printing, the supply of copies will not be available for public use until about the third week in September. A small number of advance copies were secured for the use of students and teachers at the Summer Course of Instruction which is now proceeding, and copies were supplied to the public Press in order to obviate the possibility of some newspapers, and not others, obtaining the Memorandum from individuals attending the Course of Instruction. If the hon. Member desires to have a copy I should be glad to send him one.

Sir H. CRAIK

Will it really take three weeks to have the Memorandum circulated to Members of this House?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

I do not state that on my own authority. I am only giving the information that has been given to me. The printers tell me that they cannot have it circulated before the third week in September. At least 20,000 copies will have to be printed.

Sir H. CRAIK

Could not 670 copies of the Memorandum be printed for the use of the Members of this House? Will the right hon. Gentleman inquire whether the resources of the printers are equal to that?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

I have already made inquiry. The Stationery Office tell me that it will be extremely inconvenient to strike off a small number of copies.

Sir H. CRAIK

May I ask whether it is not customary that such matters should come before the House in the first place, and before publication?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

It has not been done, as on the present occasion, on many occasions. This is not published as a Parliamentary Paper.

Sir GILBERT PARKER

Will the right hon. Gentleman give advance copies to any Member of the House who asks for them?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

Certainly, I shall be glad to; but hon. Members will quite realise the edition is in an imperfect state. and is subject to corrections in proof.