§ Mr. CHARLES BATHURSTasked the President of the Board of Education what bodies have been invited to nominate representatives to serve upon the Rural Education Conference, referred to in the Memorandum of arrangement issued in September, 1909, defining the respective spheres of the Boards of Education and Agriculture in respect of agricultural education; when such invitation was sent to them; whether any, and, if any, which of these bodies have not yet nominated their representatives; and whether the Board is now in a position to publish the promised Minute formally constituting the conference and defining its functions?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY of the BOARD of EDUCATION (Mr. Trevelyan)My right hon. Friends the Presidents of the Board of Agriculture and the Board of Education are agreed in thinking that it is undesirable to anticipate the publication of the Minute constituting the conference and defining its functions, to which I referred in the answer I gave to the hon. Member on 16th March. The invitations were sent on 15th January, and replies have been received from all except four of the bodies to whom they were issued. It is hoped, therefore, that the publication of the Minute need not now be long delayed.
§ Mr. CHARLES BATHURSTIs it not possible to advance this matter in view of the fact that it has for a long period been before the country?
§ Mr. TREVELYANEvery effort is being made to expedite it.