§ 45. Mr. KINGasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that in some cities, like Bristol, there are no overcrowded elementary schools and no fees charged to elementary scholars, whereas in other cities, like Liverpool, thousands of children are in overcrowded schools and pay thousands of pounds annually in school pence; and whether, in the forthcoming Education Bill, provision will be made to give especial encouragement to cities like Bristol, where educational responsibilities are fairly sustained, and to penalise cities like Liverpool, where they are habitually shirked?
Mr. PEASEI must ask the hon. Member to wait for the introduction of the Bill, but he must not, of course, assume that I agree with the allegations contained in the question.
§ 52. Mr. KINGasked the Prime Minister whether he will, by the educational reforms which are in contemplation, give effect to the hopes and promises with regard to children under five in elementary schools which were expressed by the right hon. Member for West Islington, speaking on behalf of the Government, on 6th and 7th January, 1906?
§ 54. Mr. KINGasked the Prime Minister whether he has noted recent expressions of doubt as to the present force of the Cockerton judgment which restricted the extent of elementary education; whether he is aware that this judgment is embodied with legislative sanction in Section 22 of the Education Act of 1902, and is the basis of the policy of the Board of Education; and, having regard to the perplexities of the position, whether he will call for a reasoned opinion on this question from the Law Officers of the Crown?
Mr. PEASEUnless the hon. Member can bring to my notice a case where difficulty has been created by the uncertainty in the law which he alleges, I see no reason to trouble the Law Officers in the matter.
§ Mr. KINGHas the right hon. Gentleman considered the statements of the Lord Chancellor on the subject?