The Education Bill has been under discussion in the House
of Commons during the whole week. On Monday the struggle over Clause IV. began in the form of a debate on Mr. Evelyn Cecil's amendment making Clause IV. mandatory. Mr. Birrell, while declining to accept the amendment, stated the general effect of the amendments of which he had himself given notice. Their object was to prevent the improper refusal of facilities by giving a right of appeal to the Board of Education. He believed that the appeals would be very few, but when there was a dispute, the Board, after inquiry, would make an order as to the terms ou which the schools should be transferred, including the condition as to extended facilities. There would, however, be an alternative. If in special circumstances it should appear expedient, the Depart. ment might allow a Voluntary school to exist as a State-
aided school receiving the Parliamentary grant, but not rate- aid. In other words, Mr. Birrell adopts the safety-valve of "contracting out," at any rate in exceptional cases. If the unlikely should happen, and a local authority were to refuse to take over a school after the Board of Education had directed that a transfer should take place, it should be com- pelled by the machinery of mandamus. No rent should be payable for schools having extended facilities. On Tuesday, after speeches from Mr. Birrell, Mr. Redmond, the Prime Minister, and Mr. Balfour, the division was taken on Mr. Evelyn Cecil's amendment, with the result that the Govern. ment majority fell to 103 (340 to 237).
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