§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.
§ VISCOUNT ALLENDALEMy Lords, this is a short Bill to amend the Education (Provision of Meals) (Ireland) Act, 1914. That Act has been in operation for over a year with very satisfactory results; but experience of its working has proved that in Ireland, especially in Dublin, the proceeds of a halfpenny rate are not sufficient to provide meals for necessitous school children during the period of the year when such assistance is most urgently required. This Bill, therefore, extends the rating limit for this purpose from a halfpenny to a penny in the £. I may explain that the limit of a halfpenny rate has also been repealed in the case of the English Act. In the Irish Act of 1914 there is a provision to the effect that the measure should continue in operation until December 31, 1916, and no longer. It is proposed in this Bill to repeal that provision. This repeal is really consequential upon the main amendment of the Act of 1914, which would be futile if that Act were to expire next December.
§ Moved, That the Bill be now read 2a.—(Viscount Allendale.)
§ On Question, Bill read 2a.
§ Committee negatived: Then (Standing Order No. XXXIX having been suspended) Bill read 3a, and passed.