§ Mr. PIRIEasked the Secretary for Scotland whether he can explain why the Development Commissioners gave £9,000 to Edinburgh University for forestry teaching without waiting for the report of the Committee specially appointed to report on this subject and without any regard to the claims of the other universities with forestry classes which have been thereby prejudiced, more especially in view of the imminent issue of that report; and if, in asking for an explanation from the Development Commissioners, he will ascertain whether attention was given by them to the report of the Scottish Universities Committee, 1909, which expressed doubts whether the establishment of a complete forestry school under the control of the University of Edinburgh warrants a claim for support from public funds; and, if not, will he explain why this was not done; and also if he will make it certain that the action of the Commissioners shall not prejudice the impartial consideration of the question of the claims of Aberdeen University to the grant for higher forestry teaching for which they have applied?
§ Mr. MASTERMANThe recommendation of the Development Commissioners was made after full consultation with the Scotch Education Department, the Government Department concerned in the matter. I understand that at the time the application from Edinburgh University was being considered no applications for Grants-in-Aid of higher forestry teaching had been made by other Scottish universities; and that the report of the Scottish Universities Committee was not overlooked. My hon. Friend may rest assured that the application of the University of Aberdeen will receive full and fair consideration. The question of the immediate extension of university instruction in forestry was not one of those referred to the Committee on Forestry appointed last year.