§ Mr. MACQUISTENasked the Secretary for Scotland if he is aware that the Secretary for Scotland, on 16th September, 1920, authorised a communication to the governors of the Glasgow Veterinary College to the effect that the Board were authorised to give an assurance that the college would be maintained as a teaching institution, but that it must be understood that no contribution towards capital expenditure would be made; whether he is prepared to adhere to this statement; and, if riot, will he give the reasons for his action?
§ Sir J. GILMOURThe answer to the first part is in the affirmative. With regard to the remainder, I propose, as I indicated on 4th instant in the course of the debate on this subject, to adhere to the decision come to by my predecessor in 1923, rather than to that intimated in 1920. The decision to discontinue grants to the Glasgow Veterinary College as from 31st March, 1925, which was intimated to the college in 1923, was based on a careful consideration of all the circumstances of the case as affecting veterinary education in Scotland. This decision is supported by the Departmental Committee on Agricultural Education and Research in Scotland, whose Report was issued in September last.