The Report stage of the Education Bill was completed in
the House of Lords on Monday night, when a new sub-section was added to Clause IV. directing Oat suitable provision shall be made in the school or elsewhere for giving to the children of those parents who declare their objection to the facilitiee religious instruction of the character permitted under the Act of 1870. The object of this clause was to prevent a single parent declaring that there was no alterna- tive school accommodation for his child, and so making the grant of facilities impossible. Lord Ripon and Lord Crewe opposed the amendment, and declared that it would be absolutely unacceptable to the House of Commons. Later, the Duke of Devonshire moved, on Clause IX., his proposals for an appeal to the Commission of three in case the local education authority declines to make any arrangement with the owners of an existing Voluntary school. On Thursday the Lords read the Bill a third time by 105 to 28 votes, the speeches of Lord Crewe and Lord Lansdowne affording hope that a compromise is still possible.
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