HC Deb 19 February 1920 vol 125 cc1019-20
15. Mr. DONALD

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is in a position to say on what date the Irish Education Bill will be introduced?

16. Sir EDWARD CARSON

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware of the general anxiety in Ireland that the Irish Education Bill should be introduced and passed into law at the earliest possible moment; and whether, having regard to the promises made last Session and the frustrated attempts to proceed with this Bill, he can now fix a definite date upon which the Bill will be introduced?

Mr. MACPHERSON

I hope to be able to introduce the Bill at an early date.

Mr. DEVLIN

Will the right hon. Gentleman now answer the question as to which of these Bills is to come first?

Mr. MACPHERSON

I am still in the same position.

Mr. DEVLIN

Can the right hon. Gentleman explain the introduction of a Bill dealing with the education of the country and centralising the education authority, when he is also introducing a Bill for dividing Ireland govern-mentally?

Mr. MACPHERSON

If my hon. Friend will await the introduction of both Bills, he will find that they are not in any way inconsistent.

Mr. DEVLIN

I may have to wait a long time.