EDUCATION (SCOTLAND) BILL. (Hansard, 17 October 1918)

§ The SECRETARY for SCOTLAND (Mr. Munro)
I beg to move to leave out the words "now read the third time," and to add the words "recommitted to a Committee of the Whole House, in respect of a Government Amendment to Schedule 5."

§ Mr. PRINGLE
I beg to move, as an Amendment to the proposed Amendment, after the word "of," to insert the words "an Amendment to Clause 13 and."
Seeing that the Bill is to be recommitted, I think it is advisable that it should be recommitted in respect of another question even more important than that upon which the Government is now seeking its recommittal. I refer to Clause 13, Sub-section (2). I do not think it necessary to go into the details of the subject, but I would remind the House that this was the most important controverted question on the Committee stage. At that time, in spite of the 347 influence of the Government, the Amendment proposed was only defeated by seventeen votes to fifteen, and, in view of the fact that we have a whole day for the Bill, I think the Government would do well to give the House an opportunity of reconsidering the question, more especially as all the local authorities in Scotland, the county councils, the town councils, and the School Boards Association, have indicated that they support this Amendment.

§ Mr. SHAW
I beg to second the Amendment, and I should like to appeal to the Secretary for Scotland to move that the Bill should be recommitted, not only in the sense of my hon. Friend, who has behind him the backing of every local authority in Scotland, but also in respect of the Fourth Schedule. An important Amendment to the Schedule which was moved by my right hon. Friend the Member for Falkirk Burghs (Mr. Murray Macdonald), yesterday, and which has behind it a very large body of support, was ruled out of order by Mr. Speaker on technical grounds. I trust that the Secretary for Scotland will see that these matters, which were discussed in Committee and decided by the narrowest margin are given a fair show at this stage.

§ Mr. MUNRO
I quite recognise that the question which my hon. Friend desires to raise is an important one, and I do not think that it would be proper for me, even if I had the right, to attempt to exclude it from discussion, seeing that my hon. Friend has expressed his desire to raise it. Therefore, so far as I am concerned, I do not offer any opposition to his Amendment. But, so far as the other question to which reference has been made is concerned, it is in quite a different position. No formal Amendment has been moved, and my right hon. Friend, who is chiefly interested in it, and in whose name the Amendment stood, has not seen fit to make this Motion to the House. I therefore respectfully ask my hon. Friend not to persist in the proposal; but so far as the important question of rating is concerned, I shall not place any obstacle in the way of it being raised.