§ 45. Mr. WATTasked the Prime Minister whether the announcement by the Lord Chancellor at Manchester that education would be the subject of legislation in the Session of 1913, means that the federation scheme of Home Rule is not to proceed further at present and that Scotland will have to wait for the advent of another Parliament with a Liberal majority before she will be given Home Rule?
§ 46 Mr. JAMES HOPEasked (1) whether the Prime Minister can give an assurance that in the proposals for educational reform, adumbrated by the Lord Chancellor in a speech at Manchester on 11th January, the existing rights of managers of denominational schools will be maintained unimpaired; (2) that the status and salaries of teachers who continue to serve in denominational elementary schools will be maintained unimpaired; and (3) that the existing facilities for religious teaching within school hours in denominational elementary schools will be maintained unimpaired?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI must refer to the answer which I gave yesterday on the subject of the Lord Chancellor's speech. I cannot at present make any statement as to the business of future Sessions.
§ Mr. WATTCan the right hon. Gentleman explain the extraordinary silence of the Members of the Government as to when and how Scotland is to get Home Rule?
§ Mr. HOPEMay I, then, take it the right hon. Gentleman cannot give me any one of the assurances for which I asked him?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI referred to the answer I gave yesterday which I think the hon. Member cannot have read—
§ The PRIME MINISTERWhen I said all these points will be taken into consideration.
§ Viscount HELMSLEYHaving regard to the general interest felt on this question, will the right hon. Gentleman give a day for a Debate upon it this Session?
§ The PRIME MINISTERNo, Sir.
§ Sir GEORGE YOUNGERDoes the right hon. Gentleman agree in thinking that the Lord Chancellor is doing a service to the Government in placing every possible barrier in the way of the carrying out of the Government's respective declarations?
§ Mr. ROBERT HARCOURTHas the Lord Chancellor ever done that?
§ Mr. LANE-FOXWhen are we to have further information upon this subject?
§ The PRIME MINISTERNext Session.
§ 79. Mr. WEDGWOODasked, with reference to the new education policy laid down by the Lord Chancellor, whether the Local Government Board was, or was not, consulted as to the lowering of the initial age of compulsory education; what comments they made on the proposal, if any; and whether the idea of differentiating between children according to the character of their parents originated in his Department?
§ The PRESIDENT of the LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. Burns)I am not sure what is the passage in the Lord Chancellor's speech to which my hon. Friend is referring; but I may say that the question of the age for school attendance is not one that specifically concerns the Local Government Board.
§ Mr. WEDGWOODMay I ask whether the Local Government Board were consulted as to this scheme at all, and what reply they made?
§ Mr. BURNSOh, in a general way the Local Government Board has a benevolent suzerainty over all these matters.
§ 82 Mr. WEDGWOODasked the President of the Board of Education whether the new scheme of education outlined by the Lord Chancellor contemplates making all children attend State kindergartens at the age of three, or only those whose mothers are not satisfactory?
§ 85. Mr. R. GWYNNEasked the President of the Board of Education whether it is the intention of the Government to raise the salary of the President of the Board of Education from £2,000 to £5,000; and, if so, if he is prepared to recommend that the salaries of the Under-Secretary and the Permanent Secretary should also be increased?
§ 88. Mr. WEDGWOODasked whether the new education scheme outlined by the Lord Chancellor was prepared in the Education Department after a careful study of the methods adopted in Germany?
§ 89. Sir A. GRIFFITH - BOSCAWENasked whether it is proposed in the scheme of education outlined by the Lord Chancellor in his speech at Manchester on 10th January to deal with the religious question in elementary schools; and, if so, whether the new Bill will proceed on the lines of the first, second, third, or fourth Education Bills of the present Government?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of EDUCATION (Mr. J. A. Pease)I must refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Prime Minister yesterday with reference to the intentions of the Government in connection with the scheme of education outlined by the Lord Chancellor.
§ Mr. GWYNNEAre we to understand then that the announcement which appeared in the "Daily News" was incorrect?
§ Viscount HELMSLEYHow is it the right hon. Gentleman's reply answers question No. 85?
§ Mr. PEASEThe Prime Minister has already said this is a question for next year. It is not one that can be dealt with this Session.
§ Mr. WEDGWOODMay I ask whether it is the view of the Board of Education that there should be a reduction in the age limit for compulsory education?
§ Mr. WEDGWOODThen they do not approve of it?
§ Sir A. GRIFFITH-BOSCAWENWill the right hon. Gentleman answer my question, No. 89; and, if not, can he provide us with an authorised version of the Lord Chancellor's speech?