HC Deb 26 February 1912 vol 34 cc1003-4
Lord HUGH CECIL

I desire to ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House to call attention to a definite matter of urgent public importance, namely, that the President of the Board of Education has admitted a breach of the Education Act, 1902, which breach it is his duty to restrain, but nevertheless refuses to take any steps in consequence thereof.

The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of EDUCATION (Mr. J. A. Pease)

On a point of Order. May I say that the charge against myself is not accurate? I have never made such an admission as that to which the Noble Lord refers.

Lord H. CECIL

The matter is within the recollection of the House.

Mr. SPEAKER

My recollection is that the President of the Board of Education said that he had no official knowledge of the matter.

Lord H. CECIL

I asked him whether he had the slightest doubt about it, and he made no answer. At any rate, that is not a matter of order; it is a matter for argument when the Motion is brought forward. I, as a Member of Parliament, from my place in Parliament, allege that he has admitted it, and he has got to disprove it if he can.

Mr. SPEAKER

The Noble Lord must have rather sounder grounds than that. The President of the Board said that he had no knowledge of the particular circumstance.

Lord H. CECIL

No official knowledge.

Mr. SPEAKER

The Noble Lord then asked whether he had unofficial or any other knowledge, and to that question the President of the Board gave no reply.

Lord H. CECIL

I think your recollection is mistaken. He said that he had the same information that was at the disposal of myself or any other Member of the House—or some phrase of that kind.

Mr. SPEAKER

I think the Noble Lord must prove that the Minister has official knowledge of some particular act or default before he can found a charge upon it.

Lord H. CECIL

Is it necessary for me to prove more than, first, that it is a definite matter; secondly, that it is an urgent matter; and, thirdly, that it is of public importance? I do not see how the fact, whether or not the right hon. Gentleman answered as I thought he did, affects any of those three points.

Mr. SPEAKER

I think it is necessary to bring home to the Minister or to the Government the fact that he or it is aware of the particular matter with which the Noble Lord wishes to charge him or it. In my opinion, he has not done so.

Lord H. CECIL

That would be brought home in the course of the Debate.