§ Mr. CHARLES BATHURSTasked the President of the Board of Education whether in the respective spheres of work outlined in the Memorandum of Arrangement between the Boards of Education and Agriculture, it was intended to follow precisely the delimitation recommended in the Report of the Departmental Committee on Agricultural Education issued by the Board of Agriculture on 14th July, 1908; or whether the establishment and maintenance of, as well as the 347 educational work carried on by, farm institutes and winter agricultural schools would fall within the sphere of the Board of Education?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of EDUCATION (Mr. Trevelyan)The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. If the hon. Member will compare Recommendation No. 28, on page 38, of the Report of the Committee, to which he refers, with the provisions of the Memorandum of Arrangement, he will see that the latter document departs, in some important respects, from the proposals of the Committee, and in particular from the proposal that the educational work of farm institutes and winter schools should be under the direction of the Board of Agriculture. The arrangements made between the two Boards are fairly clearly set out in the Memorandum. The new Inter-Departmental Committee will advise the Board of Education as to the types of schools, methods of instruction, and lines of organisation of instructional start most needing to be encouraged in particular parts of the country. The Exchequer Grants in respect of the educational work of the farm schools will be distributed by the Board of Education, but such grants as may be or become available in aid of the establishment and maintenance of the farms and experimental stations, in connection with which thy schools will be carried on, will be distributed by the Board of Agriculture.
§ Mr. CHARLES BATHURSTasked the President of the Board of Education whether, in accordance with the Memorandum of Arrangement between the Board of Agriculture and the Board of Education in respect of agricultural education, issued in September, 1909, the Inter-Departmental Committee had yet been constituted; and, if so, whether lie would name the officers of the two Boards who would serve on such committee; whether the Rural Education Conference, referred to in the above Memorandum, had yet been finally constituted; and, if so, whether he would name the several persons who had been nominated to constitute such Conference; what would be the exact duties of the last-named body; how often they would meet; and when their first meeting would take place?
§ Mr. TREVELYANThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The Inter-Departmental Committee has been constituted and has held two meetings. The membership of the Committee is as follows:—Mr. F. G. Ogilvie, C.B., a Principal Assistant Secretary of the Technical Branch of the Board of Education (Chairman); Mr. T. H. Middleton, an Assistant Secretary of the Board of Agriculture; Mr. F. Pullinger, Chief Inspector of the Technical Branch of the Board of Education; Mr. A. E. Brooke-Hunt, one of the Superintending Inspectors of the Board of Agriculture; Mr. T. S. Dymond, one of the Inspectors of the Board of Education for Agricultural Education; Mr. E. K. Chambers, an Assistant Secretary of the Technical Branch of the Board of Education acts as Secretary.
As to the constitution of the Rural Education Conference, invitations have been issued to certain associations and bodies interested in Agriculture to nominate representatives. Answers have been received in the majority of cases, but not yet in all. As soon as all the replies have been received a Minute constituting the Conference and defining its functions will be published. My right hon. Friend hopes that it may be possible to publish this Minute at an early date, and that, as it will give fuller information than could be given in an oral reply, the hon. Member will be content to await its issue.
§ Mr. C. BATHURSTIn the event of no appointment being made in the case of some of these associations who have been asked to appoint a delegate, will the proceedings of the Rural Education Conference remain in abeyance?
§ Mr. TREVELYANI have no reason to think so. I think that if the hon. Gentleman will wait a little while he will find that there will be no delay.