ELEMENTARY EDUCATION (BLIND AND DEAF CHILDREN) BILL. (Hansard, 4 September 1893)

THE EARL OF KIMBERLEY

My Lords, I beg leave to move that the House do not insist upon its Amendment. The point was whether these schools should be allowed to be established or not under the Bill, and the words which were left out were— In granting or withholding their consent under this section"— that, is to the establishment of the schools— the Education Department shall take into consideration the sufficiency of accommodation available for the blind and deaf children in existing schools. And the Commons dissent for this reason— Because it would diminish the powers given to School Authorities under the Bill, and raise considerable difficulties of Departmental administration as to limits of distance and otherwise. The objection is really this—that although the Department ought to have made some inquiry, and will make inquiry, with regard to the facilities afforded, it will hamper the action of the Department very much if you put this in. For instance, take London, it would be impossible, if there were any institutions in and around London, to say to what distance you might have to go. That Amendment, therefore, it seems to me is quite unnecessary. I am told there is a considerable feeling in the matter on the part of many Members of the other House, and that to insist upon this Amendment might incur some danger of the Bill being thrown over altogether.