HC Deb 15 July 1919 vol 118 c348

Motion made, and Question proposed, That this House do now adjourn."— [Colonel Sanders.]

Captain LOSEBY

I regret that I have chosen such an inconvenient time and occasion to call the attention of this House to a matter which has been for some time upon my mind. I should not have done so had I not exhausted every other means at my disposal for calling attention to a matter which I think is important, and. if it were not that I thought an important principle was involved. I am raising a point which is, I think, one of vital importance to those of us who believe earnestly, as I believe, in democratic principles. I am raising a question which I believe would, if it were widely known to the hon. Members of this House, prove of interest. It affects the educational policy of the right hon. Gentleman the Minister of Education. For two and a half months from time to time I have put questions to the right hon. Gentleman, and they were on the list No.120 or No. 130, and I have not been able to put them orally, which would have enabled me to meet, if I may say so without offence, the rather vague replies that I received. I have tried to get this matter ventilated in the Press, because I believe it is important, and I have tried to raise it in Debate, but have not been successful. I believe a vital democratic principle is involved. [An HON. MEMBER: "What is the principle?"]I refer to certain Regulations that have come into force for 1919, the Secondary Schools Grants Regulations, which affect the whole principle and policy of subsidising secondary schools throughout the country—

Notice taken that forty Members were not present; House counted, and forty Members not being present,

The House was adjourned at Five minutes before Eleven o'clock