Sitting of 7 February 1844

MINUTES.
PETITIONS PRESENTED. By Mr. A. S, O'Brien, from Duddingston, against Repeal of Corn-laws.—By Mr. V. Smith, from Northampton, and Stoney Stratford, respecting Window Tax on Licensed Victuallers.—From Coupar Angus, for Withholding the Supplies.

EDUCATION.
Mr. Wyse, before the House proceeded to the Order of the Day, wished to ask the right hon. Baronet the Secretary for the Home Department, a question, of which he had given him notice yesterday. The right hon. Baronet having, in the present and preceding Sessions, admitted that there unhappily existed much immorality and much crime, arising from gross ignorance in this country; that this ignorance could only be eradicated by an

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effective system of education; and that it was the duty of Government to see that such education was provided; but having yesterday declared, on introducing the Factory Bill, that it was not his intention to introduce any other educational clauses in the proposed measure but what were necessary to confirm the existing law, nor any separate measure for general education, he begged to ask whether it was the intention of Her Majesty's Government, under such circumstances, by increased pecuniary grants, or new regulations, to give greater efficiency and extension to the operations of the present committee of the Privy Council on Education?
Sir James Grahamsaid, that he was now prepared to answer the question of the right hon. Gentleman. With respect to the amount of the grant voted in the estimates to be placed at the disposal of the committee of the Privy Council on Education, no decision had yet been taken by the Government. As for new orders or regulations by the committee of the Privy Council, for the purpose of giving greater extension or efficiency to their operations, he was enabled to state that some fresh orders in council had been adopted, which he should be happy to lay on the Table if the lion. Gentleman wished it, and would move for their production—Subject at an end.
House adjourned at a quarter to five o'clock.