HC Deb 25 June 1942 vol 380 cc2144-5
31 Mr. Hannah

asked the President of the Board of Education whether, in view of our relations with Eire, any steps are being taken to improve the teaching of Irish history in English schools?

The President of the Board of Education (Mr. Butler)

I am not clear in what respects my hon. Friend thinks that improvement in the teaching of this subject is called for. If he will give me particulars, I will gladly consider the matter further.

Mr. Hannah

Is it not a fact that the Venerable Bede, more than 1,000 years ago, complained of bad relations between the two countries; and would it not be possible, by teaching more of what Ireland did for us in those far-off days, to improve relations?

Mr. Butler

I am sure we can rely on my hon. Friend to improve our knowledge of the subject.

Professor Savory

Will the right hon. Gentleman arrange to include in these lessons a full account of the abandonment of the Treaty ports by the British Government in 1938, in spite of the five-times-repeated protests of the Government of Northern Ireland?

Mr. Watkins

Will the right hon. Gentleman use his influence to encourage the teaching of unbiased English history in Irish Schools?