Mr. CATHCART WASONasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if his attention has been called to a school history bearing the names of Mr. Fletcher, Fellow of All Souls, and Mr. Rudyard Kipling, addressed to all boys and girls who are interested in the story of Great Britain and her Empire; if he can state if this history is in common use in Irish schools as well as in English; and whether, in view of the expressions of opinion set forth in the said school history, he will lay the portions of the book dealing with Irish history before his colleague, the Minister for Education of England, with a view of providing some other materials of Irish history?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI am informed and can well believe that this work is not in use in national schools in Ireland, and no special text-books of history are prescribed for secondary schools. I am quite sure that the English Minister of Education stands in no need of my advice.
Mr. CATHCART WASONWill the right hon. Gentleman between now and the adjournment consider the propriety of consulting his colleagues on the question?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI have been a Minister of Education myself, and I do not desire unnecessarily to interfere with the discretion of my right hon. Friend. So far as Ireland is concerned, I do not think that the work in question is used in any schools whatever.