SECOND READING. (Hansard, 2 December 1890)

LORD STANLEY OF ALDERLEY

The Bill to which I am going to ask your Lordships to give a Second Reading is practically a reprint of the Public Worship and Burial Sites Act, so that there is little room for criticism either for or against its wording. There are no less than five places in Anglesey which are claiming now to have intermediate schools; and throughout the rest of Wales the desire for their establishment is so great as to amount almost to a craze. A noble Lord who belonged to a former Government once said that the best support they got was unwilling support, and I am bound to say that the support which I give is rather unwilling, for though I bring the matter forward, it is not so much in accordance with my own feelings upon it as that I think the demand requires it. I, therefore, hope 334 as the Intermediate Schools Act has been passed that your Lordships will facilitate its operation. If your Lordships should pass this Bill, I think it would be desirable not to have to bring the matter forward again in reference to technical schools, and that you should allow those schools to be included as well as intermediate schools. And it is not only that technical schools should be considered, but I may remind your Lordships that the Borough of Salford is asking for the establishment of continuation schools, and threatening to bring in a Bill next year upon the subject. Probably those schools would be something like the intermediate schools in Wales. In order to include technical schools and some others, I have put in these words— Sites for intermediate schools or other schools, sanctioned by Act of Parliament, receiving aid from the rates or from the Consolidated Fund. Those words, I think, will cover the technical schools or any others which the Legislature may sanction in future, and will not go beyond them. There is another point in this Bill which I should mention: I have included in it sites for market buildings. I do not mean thereby to affect market rights in any way; but there are many towns in England where there are no market rights, and which have no market buildings, and where covered market buildings are required. I do not think I need say anything more at present in explanation of the Bill. I hope your Lordships will read it a second time.

§ THE PRIME MINISTER AND SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (The Marquess of SALISBURY)

My Lords, I think this is a new matter. From what I gathered from the description of my noble Friend of the Bill itself I see nothing in it to which I object at first sight, but I think it ought to be submitted before being passed into law to the machinery provided by the Committee presided over by the noble and learned Lord opposite (Lord Herschell). The measure deals in some respects with a new principle; and I was a little alarmed as to the provisions for acquiring sites for market buildings. I do not know exactly how far that 335 might go, or what confusion it might not introduce. At all events, I think it is a Bill which your Lordships may fairly read a second time now, but I think it should be submitted to the Standing Committee.