§ 23. Mr. WILLIAM THORNEI beg to put the following question, standing in the name of Sir Richard Winfrey: To ask the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that the Soke of Peterborough Education Committee recently passed a resolution allowing children of eleven years of age to be absent from school from February until November this year for the purpose of being employed in agricultural pursuits; whether he is aware that the education committee is composed of six aldermen, six members representing electoral divisions in the city of Peterborough, two members representing electoral divisions in the rural part of the Soke and seven co-opted members, that the clerk ruled that only aldermen, the two rural members, and the co-opted members could vote on this resolution, that all the aldermen (except the chairman) and the rural members being absent the resolution was proposed by a co-opted lady, seconded by a co-opted gentleman, and carried by their two votes only; and whether, under these circumstances, he is prepared to put into operation Section 16 of the Education Act, 1902, and hold a public inquiry, with a view of making such an Order as the Board thinks necessary or proper for the purpose of compelling the authority to fulfil its duty in the matter of the education of these children of such tender age?