Captain CRAIGasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he has received any communications from students of the late Royal University (Ireland), who were studying music, complaining that no facilities are given in the arts course of the new Queen's University, Belfast, for carrying through the musical part of the course to its finish; whether he is aware that he promised definitely when the Bill was introduced that no students of the Royal University would suffer by any change under his proposed scheme; whether he is aware that it will be necessary for students who have passed their first examination in music in the Royal University, and who are midway in their course, to seek the 589 completion of the degree in some other university; and what steps he proposes to take?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI have received one communication of the kind, and have referred it to the Commissioners, in whom the power of making statutes is at present vested. As regards the second paragraph of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to section 13 (3) of the Irish Universities Act, 1908, which was designed to protect the interests of students of the Royal University. It is enacted by that section that the governing body of the new University shall, so far as practicable, provide that students of the Royal University who elect to enter the new University may obtain degrees on conditions not more onerous than those under which they could obtain corresponding degrees in the Royal University.
Captain CRAIGIf the facts be as stated, what steps does the right hon. Gentleman intend to take to see that that is carried out?
§ Mr. BIRRELLIt is a matter for the governing body of the University to see that they carry out the obligations imposed upon them by the Act of Parliament.