§ LORD NORTONMy Lords, I beg to ask the Lord President of the Council if he can relieve those engaged in the conduct of national education of grave anxiety about the incomplete progress of his scheme of legislation by offering hope of an early day for the introduction of his promised Bill. The Code, which was only laid on the Table of the House last night, adds very much to the uncertainty of the position, and owing to the Easter holidays the Code will become law before we have any opportunity of discussing it in this House.
§ THE LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (The Duke of DEVONSHIRE)205 My Lords, in answer to the question of the noble Lord I have only to state that it has been necessary for the Government to give further consideration to their proposals of last year, in the light of the judgment in the suit "Cockerton v. The London School Board" and discussions throughout the country on the question raised. I hope, however, that either in this or the other House we shall be able to introduce a Bill immediately after Easter. With regard to the observation of the noble Lord on the subject of the Code, I regret that the intervention of the holidays should at all curtail the opportunities for discussion, but he is in error in saying there will be no opportunity for discussion before the Code becomes law. After the Easter holidays there will be a week or a longer interval during which it will be open to any Member of this House to call attention to the subject.