§ Mr. JESSONasked the President of the Board of Education whether, having regard to the importance of public libraries from an educational point of view, he is aware that a number of these useful institutions have already been closed and that others are also in danger of being closed owing to the restrictions of the penny rate and the reduction of the purchasing power of money; and whether he can see his way to treat public libraries as educational institutions and to make Grants to those in need of the same until such time as legislation has been passed to remove the restrictions imposed by the penny rate?
§ Mr. FISHERThe relation of public libraries and library provision generally to the public educational system is under my consideration, but I am not in a position to make any statement upon the matter at present.